It is very interesting question. However, it is still true that the complete understanding of both the biochemical pathways and their endocrine regulation in insect is seldom. based on the understanding of biochemical pathways of pheromones, it looks difficult to be sucessful in creating pheromon producing transgenic plant (my personal Opinion).

I think it is not, because pheromones will attract the insects to the plants rather than sticky traps that kill the insects when trapped.

Dear Dr. Jean-Pierre Jost,

Indeed it is an interesting idea and already adopted by some plants (i.e. the genus Desmodium).

The semiochemicals can be used either to repel harmful insects (allomones), confuse them during breeding (pheromones) and/or attract their antagonists (kairomones).

As far as I know, we currently lack the knowledge of the mechanisms and the methods necessary for implementing it.

Obviously the interest molecule must not interfere with the plant metabolism and be specific for the target insect, and eventually its antagonists, in order to constitute a safety risk neither for human, breed nor other insects.

In addition to identifying genes and regulatory elements for the biosynthesis of an eligible molecule in a plant of interest, a way must be found to store and then disperse it in the air around the plants, at least when the plant might be endangered by the target insect.

It would be a complex project with few precedents and requiring substantial investments.

I doubt private companies would deem it appealing, because the cost, considering safety tests and bureaucracy, for developing one cultivar would likely be far superior to the expected return.

Until we will have a firmer grip on the inherent fields, it might be more convenient to continue using devices featured with hormones traps, because it makes possible to easily change hormones, distribute them at need and devise more strategies.

For instance , mass trapping wouldn't be feasible using plants other than carnivorous ones, but they evolved on soils poor in nutrients, especially nitrogen, such as acidic bogs, and their strategies are unspecific and inefficient compared to mass trapping using devices. Thus not easily concilable with crops.

Dear Dr. Hanna M. Madanat and Dr. Jean-Pierre Jost

It is better to clarify the classes of semiochemical.

Pheromones regulate relations between individuals belonging to the same species and are divided into classes of action, the main ones are sexual pheromones and aggregation pheromones.

They can be used to interfere in the coordination between males and females during breeding season.

Allelochemicals regulate the relationships between individuals belonging to different species and they are divided into allomones, kairomones and synomones.

Allomones are useful to the emitter, kairomones to the receiver and synonomes to both. They can be used to repel the harmful insects or attract their antagonists.

As example, the female cochineal can emit one mere semiochemical that works as pheromone to the males, as kairomone to parassitoids and synonome to ants (mutualist).

Some plant produce kairomone for rectruiting antagonists of the harmful insect, synonome to recruit pollinators and there is also literature about plants seemingly able to perceive allomones as cues triggering their defense strategies.

Dear Nicolò Maria Villar,

Hormones are different from pheromones, they are excreted within the individual species body. Your example is another story. Pheromones are released from the individual species out of the body to communicate among the same species individuals and each has a specific action, as mating, alarming, aggregation or etc.

The question considered pheromones only and not allelochemicals.

Thanks,,

Dear Dr. Hanna M. Madanat

My mistake, I confused hormones and semiochemicals, now I corrected my answers. Thanks for pointing it out.

No need to put so much research in making transgenic plants, pheromone traps are already in use in market.

whats different between primer,and release pheromones