The terpene synthase gene family in Gossypium hirsutum harbors a linalool synthase GhTPS12 implicated in direct defense responses against herbivores.

Herbivore-induced terpenes have been reported to function as ecological signals in plant-insect interactions. Here, we showed that insect-induced cotton volatile blends contained 16 terpenoid compounds with a relatively high level of linalool. The high diversity of terpene production is derived from a large terpene synthase (TPS) gene family. The TPS gene family of Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium raimondii consist of 46 and 41 members, respectively. Twelve TPS genes (GhTPS4-15) could be isolated, and protein expression in Escherichia coli revealed catalytic activity for eight GhTPS. The upregulation of the majority of these eight genes additionally supports the function of these genes in herbivore-induced volatile biosynthesis. Furthermore, transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants overexpressing GhTPS12 were generated, which produced relatively large amounts of (3S)-linalool. In choice tests, female adults of Helicoverpa armigera laid fewer eggs on transgenic plants compared with non-transformed controls. Meanwhile, Myzus persicae preferred feeding on wild-type leaves over leaves of transgenic plants. Our findings demonstrate that transcript accumulation of multiple TPS genes is mainly responsible for the production and diversity of herbivore-induced volatile terpenes in cotton. Also, these genes might play roles in plant defence, in particular, direct defence responses against herbivores. We systematically analysed insect-induced cotton volatile blends and characterized 12 terpene synthases (GhTPS4-15) from upland cotton plants. Furthermore, GhTPS12 was transformed into Nicotiana tabacum plants to produce (3S)-linalool and thus enhanced the repellency of two insect pests belong to different feeding guilds, Helicoverpa armigera and Myzus persicae. Our data indicate that these TPS genes might play roles in plant defence and could be used as tools for the metabolic engineering of terpene biosynthesis in cotton or other plant species.