Integrated pest management evaluation and metabolomics characterization of soybean resistant to Diceraeus melacanthus

The green-belly stink bug, Diceraeus melacanthus Dallas (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an impairing pest of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in the Neotropics, particularly under intensified cropping systems and increasing limitations of chemical control. Host plant resistance represents a sustainable alternative within Integrated Pest Management (IPM); however, the mechanisms underlying soybean resistance to D. melacanthus and its compatibility with biological control remain poorly understood. This study characterized resistance mechanisms of the soybean cultivars BRS 539 ® (Block technology) and Conkesta E3 ®. Antixenosis, antibiosis, tolerance, and compatibility with the egg parasitoid Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were evaluated through behavioral, biological, and plant performance assays. In addition, untargeted metabolomics was employed to investigate constitutive and induced biochemical responses associated with D. melacanthus herbivory. BRS 539 ® received less herbivory and maintained plant performance under herbivory, consistent with antixenosis and tolerance-related responses. In contrast, Conkesta E3 ® negatively affected herbivore survival and reproductive parameters, indicating antibiosis, while maintaining reproductive output under infestation. Metabolomics analyses revealed contrasting defense-associated profiles between the cultivars. BRS 539 ® displayed a lipid-enriched constitutive metabolism associated with inducible specialized metabolites in reproductive tissues, whereas Conkesta E3 ® exhibited a predominantly stress-associated metabolic response following herbivory. Despite cultivar-dependent effects on herbivore performance, no effects were detected on parasitoid preference or development, indicating compatibility of both cultivars with biological control. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that distinct combinations of antixenosis, antibiosis, and tolerance can contribute to soybean resistance against stink bugs while preserving tritrophic interactions within IPM programs.