Perturbation of membrane lipid metabolism in wheat (Triticum aestivum) seedling caused by Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) attacks

Changes in membrane lipid composition play important roles in plants’ adaptation to environmental stresses. In the current study, we analyzed lipid profile at Hessian fly (HF)larval feeding sites of wheat genotypes ‘Molly’ following attacks by virulent and avirulent HFs using electro-spray tandem mass spectrometry. At 24 hours post initial attacks (hpia), HF attacks decreased levels of Galactolipids to similar extent in both compatible and incompatible interactions, but affected levels of phospholipids differently in different interactions. At 72 hpia, the alteration of lipid composition resulted from HF attacks was enhanced in the compatible interaction but diminished in the incompatible interaction. Principal component analysis on concentrations of all lipid species revealed that the alteration of lipid profile was most pronounced in the compatible interaction at 72 hpia among all the treatments. Our results suggested that degradation of Galactolipids may be associated with wheat plants’ adaption to HF attacks.