Differential stem proteomics and metabolomics profiles for four wheat cultivars in response to the insect pest Wheat Stem Sawfly

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a global staple crop, and insect pests can impact grain yield. The wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus, WSS) is a major wheat pest, and while partial resistance has been deployed by breeding for a solid-stem trait, this trait is affected by environment. Here, a proteomics and metabolomics study was performed on four wheat cultivars to characterize a molecular response to WSS infestation. The cultivars Hatcher (hollow-stem partially tolerant), Conan (semisolid-stem-resistant), and Denali and Reeder (hollow-stem-susceptible) were infested with WSS, and changes in stem proteins and metabolites were characterized using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The proteome was characterized as 1830 proteins that included five major biological processes, including metabolic processes and response to stimuli, and the metabolome (1823 metabolites) spanned eight chemical superclasses, including alkaloids, benzenoids, and lipids. All four varieties had a molecular response to WS...