Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan.
Agricultural Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan.
Biochem Soc Trans. 2024 Aug 28;52(4):1927-1937. doi: 10.1042/BST20240213.
Pyrethrins are natural insecticides biosynthesised by Asteraceae plants, such as Tanacetum cinerariifolium and have a long history, dating back to ancient times. Pyrethrins are often used as low-persistence and safe insecticides to control household, horticultural, and agricultural insect pests. Despite its long history of use, pyrethrin biosynthesis remains a mystery, presenting a significant opportunity to improve yields and meet the growing demand for organic agriculture. To achieve this, both genetic modification and non-genetic methods, such as chemical activation and priming, are indispensable. Plants use pyrethrins as a defence against herbivores, but pyrethrin biosynthesis pathways are shared with plant hormones and signal molecules. Hence, the insight that pyrethrins may play broader roles than those traditionally expected is invaluable to advance the basic and applied sciences of pyrethrins.
除虫菊素是由菊科植物（如蓝蓟和小白菊）生物合成的天然杀虫剂，具有悠久的历史，可以追溯到古代。除虫菊素通常用作低持久性和安全的杀虫剂，用于防治家庭、园艺和农业害虫。尽管除虫菊素的使用历史悠久，但它的生物合成仍然是一个谜，这为提高产量和满足有机农业的需求提供了重要机会。为了实现这一目标，遗传修饰和非遗传方法（如化学激活和引发）都是必不可少的。植物将除虫菊素作为防御草食动物的手段，但除虫菊素的生物合成途径与植物激素和信号分子共享。因此，除虫菊素可能发挥比传统预期更广泛的作用的这一认识，对于推进除虫菊素的基础和应用科学是非常宝贵的。
