Extracellular ssDNA from <i>P. tobira</i> Exerts Strong Insecticidal Activity on <i>C. hesperidum</i>
Journal: bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Year: 2025

Abstract Beyond its function as a carrier of hereditary information, recent research has uncovered novel properties for extracellular DNA, including its role in the adaptation to the environment when released from plants. The secreted DNA has been shown to exert insecticidal effect against insect pests, which plays an adaptive role in plant-insect interactions, particularly in regulating populations of economically important sap-feeding insects. The molecular mechanisms behind this insecticidal