Similarities and divergences in the molecular response of A. thaliana and B. rapa to seed priming under herbivore pressure

Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed that, despite broadly conserved co-expression network structures, the overlap in differentially expressed genes and metabolic shifts was limited. Additionally, the magnitude and direction of priming effects varied depending on both the plant and the herbivore, revealing strong plant-pest interaction effects. B. rapa responses–characterized by SA accumulation under mite infestation and glucosinolate pathway activation under caterpillar feeding–were robust, whereas A. thaliana displayed more flexibility.

These divergent outcomes likely reflect epigenetic regulation and the complex genome architecture of B. rapa. Our findings suggest that the phenotypic benefits of seed priming are conserved across Brassicaceae, but their molecular basis are shaped by plant species and pest identity, as well as context-specific interactions. This comparative study underscores the potential of tailoring priming strategies to crop species for sustainable pest management.