植物在受到虫咬后会产生以倍半萜为主的挥发性物质，该类物质能够吸引害虫的天敌来杀灭害虫，被称为间接防御。萜类合成酶是催化倍半萜产生的关键酶。AP2/ERF转录因子通过不同激素途径参与植物虫害防御，是重要的逆境胁迫应答因子。在前期研究中发现玉米AP2/ERF类转录因子ZmEREB58调控玉米萜类合成酶基因tps10的表达，并受茉莉酸（JA）和乙烯（ET）的诱导。本项目将对ZmEREB58转录因子参与JA途径的虫害胁迫响应、参与间接防御进行分析。首先利用启动子-报告基因系统，确定调控ZmEREB58基因表达的顺式作用元件，再利用酵母单杂交方法获得调控ZmEREB58的上游调控基因，确定ZmEREB58和上游调控基因在JA信号途径中的功能。通过对玉米内源抗虫机制的研究，期望探索一条利用植物内源和外源相结合防治害虫新途径。

Plants damaged by herbivorous insect emit a complex volatile blend that can attract natural enemies of herbivores and it is called indirect defense. The majority of the volatile compounds are sesquiterpene that are produced by terpene synthase. AP2/ ERF family is a large gene family of transcription factor involved in regulating plant development and stress response. The AP2/ERF transcription factor is an important defense response factor involved in different phytohormone regulation pathway. In our previous study we found ZmEREB58, an AP2/ERF transcription factor, regulated the transcript of tps10 gene and was induced by hormone jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET). However, little to nothing is known about ZmEREB58 role involved in JA- and ET-induced defense pathway and its function in indirect defense. In this project we will use the promoter-reporter system to determine the cis-element of ZmEREB58 promoter and then screen the candidate gene that regulates the transcript of ZmEREB58 using Yeast One Hybrid (Y1H), and the functions of both ZmEREB58 and upstream regulator gene in JA-induced pathway would be further studied. Based on the understanding of endogenous mechanism of herbivore resistance and the biotic stress defense regulation network, we hope to explore a new pest control way to combine the endogenous and exogenous stress defense method to achieve comprehensive plant protection.