2026/04/18 by Zoe Economos, Elias H. Bloom, Uriel D. Menalled +3 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Insect-Plant Interactions and Control #Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences #Insect Resistance and Genetics
paper · doi:10.1002/ps.70821
openalex publication_date 2026/04/18 · openalex created_date 2026/04/19 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27
BACKGROUND: Cover crops can support soil health and increase habitats for beneficial insects in diverse cropping systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cover crop-conditioned soil on plant defense responses and insect pest damage using dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as a model. RESULTS: In a 2-year, multi-location field experiment comparing four cover crop treatments and a tilled control, we found that dry beans no-till planted into mechanically terminated cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) experienced less insect damage than controls. In the laboratory, microbiome extracts from canola-enriched field soil increased dry bean jasmonic acid levels and reduced cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) survival compared with other soil microbiome extracts. No differences in defense hormones were detected for dry bean grown in cereal rye soil microbiome extracts, however aphid survival was reduced on these plants compared to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Cereal rye and canola cover crops reduced insect damage in dry bean fields. Soil microbiomes associated with canola enhanced defense-related compounds in dry bean, suggesting a potential mechanism for pest suppression in the field. However, the impacts of canola varied across microbiome sources, highlighting the need for additional studies. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.