Analysis of compounds extracted from male Apolygus lucorum

采用气质联用和嗅觉仪对分部解剖的绿盲蝽Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür)雄虫体外挥发物进行鉴定和生测.结果表明:绿盲蝽雄虫浸提物中的主要组分有13种,包括醇类、酸类和酯类.相对含量较高的依次有丁酸已酯、反-2-丁酸已烯酯和已醇.绿盲蝽雄虫从交配不活跃期进入活跃期,其体内的丁酸已酯、反-2-丁酸已烯酯和已醇的含量都明显变化,其中丁酸已酯和反-2-丁酸已烯酯明显增加,而已醇的含量减少,表明绿盲蝽雄虫在交配活跃期,可能有大量的丁酸已酯和反-2-丁酸已烯酯释放到体外.比较绿盲蝽雄虫的不同部位的浸提物的含量,发现丁酸已酯、反-2-丁酸已烯酯和已醇主要存在于虫体胸部.嗅觉反应测试中绿盲蝽雌虫对丁酸已酯和反-2-丁酸已烯酯有明显的趋性,同时含量很少的丁酸庚酯对雌虫有明显引诱作用.因此推测丁酸已酯、反-2-丁酸已烯酯和丁酸庚酯可能是绿盲蝽雄虫释放到体外的挥发性引诱成分,并主要由胸部内的腺体分泌.     

绿盲蝽雌虫的浸提物分析

采用浸泡法和气质联(GC-MS)用对绿盲蝽Lygus lucorum Meyer-dür雌虫不同部位的浸提物进行鉴定。结果表明:确定10种成分为绿盲蝽雌虫的浸提物中的主要组分,包括醇类,酸类和酯类。相对含量较高的依次有反-2-丁酸己烯酯、反-2-己烯醇、丁酸、顺-3-己烯醇、丁酸己酯。绿盲蝽雌虫在完成性召唤活动后,丁酸己酯、反-2-丁酸己烯酯和反-2-己烯醇的含量都明显减少,其中反-2-丁酸己烯酯从召唤前的7200ng减少到召唤后的250ng,表明在绿盲蝽雌虫性召唤活动中,有大量的反-2-丁酸己烯酯释放到体外。比较绿盲蝽雌虫的不同部位的浸提物的组分发现反-2-丁酸己烯酯主要存在于虫体胸部,占总量的89.75%,且反-2-己烯醇也主要存在于胸部。因此推测反-2-丁酸己烯酯可能是绿盲蝽雌虫的性信息素成分或组分之一,并主要由胸部内的腺体分泌。     

绿盲蝽对性信息素类似物和植物挥发物的触角电位反应

为了更好地利用性信息素类似物与植物挥发物对绿盲蝽Lygus lucorum进行监测和生物防治, 本研究采用电生理学方法测试了绿盲蝽成虫对9种性信息素类似物和12种植物挥发性物质的触角电位(electroantennogram, EAG)反应。结果表明: 在测试的这21种化合物中, 绿盲蝽对丁酸酯类化合物和绿叶气味物质的EAG反应较强; 雄虫对性信息素类似物比雌虫更敏感, 而雌虫对植物挥发物更敏感。其中性信息素类似物中, 绿盲蝽对反-2-丁酸己烯酯的EAG反应最强; 植物挥发物中, 绿盲蝽对反-2-己烯醛的EAG反应最强, 雌虫对反-2-己烯醇、反-2-己烯醛、顺-3-己烯醇等绿叶气味物质的EAG反应相对高于萜类化合物的反应。剂量反应曲线表明, 在测定的浓度范围内, 雄虫对反-2-丁酸己烯酯的反应比雌虫显著高, 而对β 蒎烯的反应则比雌虫显著低。绿盲蝽成虫对性信息素类似物和植物挥发物的EAG反应存在的两性差异具有生态适应意义: 雄虫对性信息素类似物更敏感将更有利于其寻找交配对象, 而雌虫对绿叶气味物质更敏感将更有利于其寻找产卵寄主。     

绿盲蝽气味受体基因AlucOR40的克隆及功能研究

【目的】从绿盲蝽Apolygus lucorum触角中克隆气味受体基因Aluc OR40,研究该气味受体基因在绿盲蝽不同组织中的表达水平,然后对该基因的功能进行研究,为理解绿盲蝽的嗅觉识别机制提供理论基础。【方法】在绿盲蝽成虫触角转录组测序与分析的基础上,通过PCR技术克隆得到气味受体基因Aluc OR40的全长序列。用半定量RT-PCR研究该基因在雌雄虫不同组织中的表达水平。然后通过爪蟾卵母细胞体外表达该基因,并结合双电极电压钳检测了该气味受体对60种气味分子包括绿盲蝽性信息素组分和植物挥发物的反应。然后,利用触角电位技术测定羽化后3 d的绿盲蝽成虫对Aluc OR40的气味配体的触角电位反应。【结果】克隆了Aluc OR40(Gen Bank登录号:KU886190)。Aluc OR40编码398个氨基酸,蛋白具有7个跨膜结构域,N末端位于胞内,C端位于细胞外,符合昆虫气味受体的典型特征。半定量RT-PCR的结果显示,Aluc OR40在触角中特异表达,且在雄虫触角中的表达水平高于雌虫。双电极电压钳记录结果显示,Aluc OR40只对反-2-己烯醇一种气味分子具有特异反应。EAG实验结果表明,羽化后3 d的绿盲蝽雌雄虫都对反-2-己烯醇有反应,且雄虫触角的EAG反应显著高于雌虫。【结论】结果提示Aluc OR40参与了绿盲蝽对反-2-己烯醇的识别过程,推测其在绿盲蝽交配过程中雄虫对雌虫的识别中发挥作用。     

苹褐带卷蛾成虫对主要寄主植物挥发物的触角电位反应和行为反应

【目的】苹褐带卷蛾Adoxophyes orana是危害苹果、桃、梨、枣等果树的一种重要昆虫。近年来在陕西苹果和红枣产区发生面积逐年扩大,危害日趋严重。本研究旨在明确寄主植物挥发物在苹褐带卷蛾成虫嗅觉通讯中的作用,为开发植物源引诱剂提供基础数据。【方法】利用触角电位(electroantennogram, EAG)仪测定苹褐带卷蛾2日龄未交配雌、雄成虫对51种寄主植物挥发性化合物的EAG反应;利用本实验室开发的小型蛾类昆虫嗅觉行为测试装置测定苹褐带卷蛾成虫对15种具有显著EAG反应的挥发性化合物的行为反应。【结果】EAG测试结果表明,苹褐带卷蛾成虫对不同挥发性化合物的EAG反应相对值有显著差异,雌、雄成虫对顺 3 己烯 1 醇、反 2 己烯 1 醇、1 己醇、1 庚醇、己醛、反 2 己烯醛、庚醛、辛醛、壬醛、乙酸丁酯、乙酸异戊酯和乙酸 顺 3 己烯酯的EAG反应较强。此外,雄成虫对3 甲基 1 丁醇、1 戊烯 3 醇、苯甲醛、丁酸丁酯、乙酸乙酯、三甲基巴豆酸乙酯、己酸乙酯、丙酸丁酯、异戊酸 顺 3 己烯酯、苯甲腈和柠檬腈的反应较强。在待测的51种挥发性化合物中,苹褐带卷蛾成虫对29种化合物的EAG反应具有明显性别差异,除雌虫对(-)-α-水芹烯和莰烯的EAG反应显著高于雄虫外,雌虫对其他27种挥发性化合物的EAG反应显著低于雄虫。当测试的挥发性化合物剂量在0.02~20 μg时,随剂量的增大成虫的EAG反应变化不明显;当挥发物剂量在20~200 μg时,成虫的EAG反应随剂量的增大显著升高。嗅觉行为选择试验结果表明,雌成虫对己醛、庚醛、辛醛和乙酸 顺 3 己烯酯有明显的趋性,选择率均高于58%;雄成虫对1 己醇、庚醛、乙酸异戊酯和苯甲腈有明显的趋性。【结论】苹褐带卷蛾未交配雄成虫对寄主植物挥发性化合物的EAG反应较未交配雌成虫灵敏,1 己醇、己醛、庚醛、辛醛、乙酸 顺 3 己烯酯、乙酸异戊酯和苯甲腈对苹褐带卷蛾雌蛾或雄蛾具有明显的吸引作用,可以用于开发该害虫的植物源引诱剂。     

盲蝽科昆虫性信息素研究概况

盲蝽科MIridae昆虫具有重要的经济价值,包含许多农林业的重要害虫和一些害虫的重要天敌。目前,已确定性信息素化学成分的有3属4种盲蝽。这4种盲蝽性信息素的化学成分分别是显角微刺盲蝽Campylomma verbasci：丁酸丁酯和反-2-丁酸丁烯酯(16：1),Phytocoris californicus：乙酸己酯和反-2-乙酸龙脑脂(2：1),Phytocoris relativus：乙酸己酯和反-2-丁酸龙脑脂(2：1)及Lygocoris pabulinus：顺-9-二十五碳烯和顺-7-二十五碳烯(5：1)。相反,草盲蝽属Lygus昆虫的性信息素却难以鉴定。尽管从草盲蝽属昆虫中已分离鉴定20多种化合物,但至今没有1种或1个组分能成功地产生吸引该属雄虫的生物活性。     

牧草盲蝽对七种寄主植物不同挥发物的EAG和行为反应

【目的】研究牧草盲蝽Lygus pmtensis对寄主植物挥发物的EAG及趋向行为反应,为研发牧草盲蝽引诱剂或趋避剂策略提供科学依据。【方法】利用固相微萃取方法收集7种寄主植物包括木地肤Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad.、灰绿藜Chenopodium glaucum、花椰菜Brassica oleracea L.var.botrytis L.、小白菜Brassica campestris L.ssp.chinensis Makino、田旋花Convolvulus arvensis L.、小藜Chenopodium serotinum L.、番茄Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.的挥发物,通过室内气相-质谱联用系统(GC-MS)进行挥发物的定性及定量分析,最终测定了9种候选特征挥发物的触角电位(EAG)反应和嗅觉趋向行为反应。【结果】7种寄主植物共鉴定到的化合物有31种,且种类和含量有较大差异,差异显著。9种候选特征挥发物均能引起牧草盲蝽雌、雄成虫的EAG反应。其中牧草盲蝽雌、雄成虫对壬醛的EAG反应绝对值最大,雌、雄虫对不同植物挥发物质EAG反应相对值均有显著差异,且对同种化合物雌虫的反应相对值均大于雄虫的反应,乙酸顺式-3-己烯酯和壬醛引发的EAG反应值差异显著;趋向行为测定中,牧草盲蝽雌虫对壬醛、金合欢烯、α-蒎烯、1-石竹烯、乙酸顺式-3-己烯酯、2-甲基-1-醇的大部分浓度的行为反应差异显著,雄虫仅对α-蒎烯、壬醛的部分浓度的行为反应差异显著。【结论】7种寄主植物的挥发物对牧草盲蝽雌、雄成虫具有不同EAG和趋向行为反应影响,候选气味化合物可以作为设计牧草盲蝽引诱剂组分进行田间害虫防控实践。     

云斑天牛对10种植物挥发物的EAG和行为反应

【目的】为了探明对云斑天牛Batocera lineolata Chevrolat成虫具有行为导向的寄主植物挥发物对成虫行为反应的影响。【方法】采用触角电位(EAG)和"Y"型嗅觉仪技术,测定云斑天牛成虫(未交配雌虫、未交配雄虫、已交配雌虫)对10种寄主植物挥发物的电生理和行为反应。【结果】所选化合物在特定浓度下,均能引起云斑天牛成虫较为明显的EAG反应,浓度为100μg/μL时,云斑天牛成虫对所测试的植物挥发物的EAG反应最强,其中未交配雌、雄及已交配雌虫对(Z)-3-己烯-1-醇的EAG反应相对值均为最大,分别达2.35、2.31和2.22。行为反应生测中,(Z)-3-己烯-1-醇对未交配雌、雄虫可产生明显的引诱作用,芳樟醇则对两者具有明显的趋避作用,而已交配雌虫对所有化合物均无明显趋性。【结论】试验结果可为开发对其有效的林间引诱剂提供一定的理论依据。     

小菜蛾对合成植物挥发物的活性反应

在室内检验了小菜蛾已交配和未交配雌、雄成虫对3种合成植物挥发物乙酸顺-3-己烯酯（Z-3-hexenyl acetate,ACTE）、异硫氰酸丙烯酯（allyl isothiocyanate,NCS）和顺-3-己烯醇（Z-3-hexen-1-ol,OH）的触角电位(EAG)反应。不同浓度（0.008 μg/μL、0.08 μg/μL、0.2 μg/μL、0.8 μg/μL、8 μg/μL、20 μg/μL和40 μg/μL）实验表明,随着刺激化合物浓度的提高,小菜蛾反应活性增强。但小菜蛾的性别及其交配状态可能影响其对3种化合物的反应强度：不同性别及交配状态的小菜蛾对ACTE的反应差异不大;未交配雌、雄虫对OH的反应强于已交配雌、雄虫;未交配雌虫对低浓度的NCS反应较强,NCS超过一定浓度时已交配雌虫的反应强于未交配雌虫,雄虫对NCS反应较小且与交配状态无关。以小菜蛾性信息素作为对照,在湖北长阳和越南河内试验了这3种植物挥发物诱芯（6 μL/诱芯）对小菜蛾的引诱作用。结果表明,在湖北,第1天时 ACTE、NCS对雄虫具有很强的引诱作用,引诱量显著大于性诱剂的引诱量,但随着诱芯放置时间延长,NCS引诱作用迅速下降,第2天时引诱作用已经很小;ACTE的引诱作用下降缓慢,第4天的诱蛾量才显著小于性信息素的诱蛾量,OH的引诱力较弱。在河内,ACTE、NCS、OH第1天对小菜蛾引诱作用很强,引诱量大于性信息素,但差异不显著;随着诱芯放置时间延长,3种挥发物对小菜蛾的引诱量均下降很快,第4天的引诱力就很弱。3种植物挥发物的混合物(体积比1∶1∶1)对小菜蛾的引诱作用与性信息素相似,且诱蛾活性持效期相对较长。无论在越南或湖北,植物挥发物或其混合物均很少引诱到雌虫。     

The emergence rhythm and copulation behavior of Adelphocoris suturalis

在光周期L∶D=16∶8,温度(25±1)℃条件下对中黑盲蝽Adelphocoris suturalis Jakovlev羽化规律及交配行为进行观察,结果表明:中黑盲蝽雌、雄成虫全天均可羽化,雌虫羽化高峰出现在亮灯后7:00-9:00am,雄虫的羽化高峰出现在亮灯后5:00-7:00am;羽化过程历时较短,仅5-7min.成虫自4日龄开始达到性成熟;室内短距离条件下雌虫通过足摩擦腹部(有时会伴随着振翅)吸引雄虫,同时雄虫用足摩擦腹部并振动翅膀回应雌虫,定位雌虫后发生交配,交配时间约30s.     

Performance of polyethylene tubes as pheromone lures for the sorghum plant bug, Stenotus rubrovittatus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae)

The sorghum plant bug, Stenotus rubrovittatus (Matsumura) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae), is a pest that infests rice in many regions of Japan. Three sex attractant pheromone components—hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate, and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal—were identified in S. rubrovittatus. Because the longevity of a synthetic rubber septum dispenser is not sufficient for it to be an effective S. rubrovittatus pheromone lure, the performances of an alternative pheromone dispenser—a polyethylene tube—was examined. Hexyl butyrate and (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate are essential components of S. rubrovittatus male attraction, and the application of (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal strongly enhanced the attractiveness of such “tube-type” lures. A 5:1:10 blend of hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate, and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal was found to be the best blend ratio for male attraction in the tube-type lures. Tube-type lures attracted more males than rubber lures. Furthermore, the attractiveness of the tube-type lures was maintained for more than 28 days in the field. These results suggest that tube-type lures made of polyethylene plastic are suitable for monitoring S. rubrovittatus in fields.     

Sex Pheromones and Reproductive Isolation in Five Mirid Species

Mate location in many mirid bugs (Heteroptera: Miridae) is mediated by female-released sex pheromones. To elucidate the potential role of the pheromones in prezygotic reproductive isolation between sympatric species, we investigated differences in the pheromone systems of five mirid species, Apolygus lucorum, Apolygus spinolae, Orthops campestris, Stenotus rubrovittatus and Taylorilygus apicalis. GC/MS analyses of metathoracic scent gland extracts of virgin females showed that all five species produced mixtures of hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal, but in quite different ratios. (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate was the major component of A. spinolae, while hexyl butyrate was the most abundant component in the pheromone blends of the other four species. In addition to the three compounds, a fourth component, (E)-2-octenyl butyrate, was present in the gland extracts of A. lucorum and T. apicalis females. Field tests suggest that the ternary blends of hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal as found in the extracts of the females of each species do not inhibit attraction of conspecific males but ensure species-specificity of attraction between A. lucorum, O. campestris and T. apicalis. Furthermore, (E)-2-octenyl butyrate was essential for attraction of A. lucorum and T. apicalis males, but strongly inhibited attraction of male A. spinolae, O. campestris and S. rubrovittatus. The combined results from this study and previous studies suggest that the minor component and pheromone dose in addition to the relative ratio of the major components play an important role in reproductive isolation between mirid species.     

Identification of female sex pheromone of a plant bug,Adelphocoris fasciaticollis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae)

The plant bug, Adelphocoris fasciaticollis, has begun to resurge and become a key pest for cotton and alfalfa in northern China, along with the widespread cultivation of Bt cotton. To control this plant bug without pesticides, we attempted to develop a new approach by utilizing sex pheromone. The sex pheromone components from the whole‐body extracts were analysed by GC‐MS and gas chromatography–electroantennogram detector analysis (GC‐EAD). (E)‐4‐Oxo‐2‐hexenal and hexyl butyrate, identified as the major components in the extracts of female bugs, elicited strong EAD responses. Field tests indicated that either (E)‐4‐oxo‐2‐hexenal or hexyl butyrate attracted few A. fasciaticollis males and was significantly less active than virgin females and the binary blend. Their ratio was optimized to be 1 : 11. Our results could expand acknowledge of the pheromone of mirids and provide novel approaches to monitor and control this plant bug without pesticides.     

Efficiency of volatile baited sticky traps for the Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris) in strawberry fields

Insecticides have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Thus, the development of non-chemical replacement to manage insect pests is urgent. An alternative is to bait sticky traps with attractive insect sex pheromones or plant volatiles. In Quebec, the tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) is a major insect pest. We tested the efficiency of sex pheromones (mixture of hexyl butyrate (HB), (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate (E2HB) and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal (KA)) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) volatiles (pinene, sabinene and phenylacetaldehyde) as sticky trap baits for the tarnished plant bug in strawberry fields of the Laurentians in Southern Québec, Canada. The pheromones decreased the number of tarnished plant bug caught in the traps compared to a control. The sunflower volatile did not have any effect on the number of individuals caught in the traps. Different Lygus species use HB, E2HB and KA in different ratios for sexual signals and alarm signals and for species recognition. GC-MS analysis of the sex pheromone bait revealed that the ratios between the three main compounds did not match the intended ratio for the L. lineolaris species. This mismatch probably explains our results. Individuals were not attracted to sunflower volatiles. Our results point to the difficulty of manufacturing and using sex pheromones as baits. Future work should assess the effect of several pheromone ratios.     

Rat cheek gland compounds: behavioural response to identified compounds

Cheek gland secretions from sexually mature and reproductively active male and female laboratory rats (Wister strain), Rattus norvegicus albinus were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Alkanes, aliphatic acids esters and alcohols were identified in the secretions. Cheek gland preparation from males contained predominantly three compounds, viz. di-n-octyl phthalate (I); 1,2-benzene diacarboxylic acid butyl (2-ethyl hexyl) ester (II); and 1,2 benzene dicarboxylic acid (2-methylpropyl) ester (III) whereas in the cheek gland of females two compounds, viz, 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid (2-methylpropyl) ester (I); and 2,6,10 dedecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl-(Z, E) (II) were the major fractions. The identified compounds were tested for odour preferences. Compounds II and III of males and I and II of females attracted both male and female conspecifics. By contrast, compound I from males only attracted females. The level of attraction also varied from compound to compound. The results suggest that cheek gland secretions have pheromonal functions.     

Sex pheromone of the alfalfa plant bug,Adelphocoris lineolatus

In northern China, due to the large‐scale adoption of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) cotton, the number of Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze) (Hemiptera: Miridae) has increased quickly, causing significant loss in cotton and alfalfa production. One of the environmentally safe strategies without use of pesticides is the application of insect pheromone for mating disruption. In our study, we aim to identify the active components in sexually mature virgin female A. lineolatus, and activity and optimal ratio of these components. By using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and gas chromatography–electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD), we identified three active compounds: hexyl butyrate (HB), (E)‐2‐hexenyl butyrate (E2HB), and (E)‐4‐oxo‐2‐hexenal (4‐OHE). We examined the release rate of septum and tube dispensers in a wind tunnel. In a field experiment, deletion of 4‐OHE or E2HB resulted in significant suppression of male trap catches, indicating that E2HB or 4‐OHE may be the active pheromone components. Traps baited with a blend of 4‐OHE and E2HB at 2:5, 3:4, and 4:3 caught significantly more males, suggesting that the optimal ratio of 4‐OHE and E2HB could be in the range of 1:1 to 1:2. The addition of a large amount of HB could strongly reduce the attractive activity of both virgin females and artificial lures. We also compared the attractiveness of septum lures and tube lures in field experiments. The septum lures attracted males in the first 3 days. The tube lures caught more males after 3 days and the attractive effects existed up to 5 weeks, suggesting them as a tool for long‐term monitoring and control of plant bugs.     

Pheromonal cross-attraction in true bugs (Heteroptera): attraction of Piezodorus hybneri (Pentatomidae) to its pheromone versus the pheromone of Riptortus pedestris (Alydidae)

We investigated the attractiveness of a synthetic form of the pheromone of the soybean stink bug, Piezodorus hybneri (Gmelin), under field conditions, and compared it with that of (E)-2-hexenyl (E)-2-hexenoate, a pheromone component of a competitor, Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius). Many adult stink bugs were attracted to traps baited with 100 mg of the synthetic pheromone (1: 1: one mixture of β-sesquiphellandrene, (R)-15-hexadecanolide, and methyl (Z)-8-hexadecenoate), but few were attracted to 1 or 10 mg. More than twice as many females as males were attracted to this male-produced pheromone. None of the individual pheromone components (30 mg) attracted conspecifics. In summer (June-July), when field P. hybneri were not in diapause, (E)-2-hexenyl (E)-2-hexenoate was more attractive to P. hybneri than the synthetic pheromone. The sex ratio of the adults attracted to the synthetic pheromone was highly female-biased, yet almost equal numbers of both sexes were attracted to (E)-2-hexenyl (E)-2-hexenoate. Most females attracted to both attractants were mated and had mature ovaries. However, adults attracted to (E)-2-hexenyl (E)-2-hexenoate were likely to have less food in their stomach than those attracted to the synthetic pheromone. In late autumn (October-November), when the bugs were in reproductive diapause, both attractants attracted many sexually immature female and male adults that had well-developed fat body. The synthetic pheromone also attracted a large number of conspecific nymphs. These results suggest that P. hybneri pheromone and R. pedestris pheromone component, respectively, have different functions for P. hybneri. The male-produced pheromone system of P. hybneri seems to be sex-related but to have other roles.     

Behavioural responses of wheat stem sawflies to wheat volatiles

1 Adult wheat stem sawflies Cephus cinctus, pests of cultivated cereals that also infests wild grasses, migrate into wheat fields where they oviposit in elongating, succulent stems.
2 Volatiles released by wheat plants at susceptible stages were analyzed to determine potential semiochemical compounds. Seven major compounds were identified and quantified.
3 A Y-tube bioassay was developed to evaluate upwind orientation of adult sawflies in response to an airstream that passed over elongated wheat plants. The bioassay was also conducted with synthetic volatile compounds. The compounds were tested using a range of concentrations spanning those identified in the airstream passing over wheat plants.
4 A significant number of adult females were attracted to wheat plants when given a choice of either purified air or the air passing over plants.
5 A significant number of female C. cinctus were attracted to ( Z )-3-hexenyl acetate, β-ocimene, and ( Z )-3-hexen-1-ol, but were repelled by 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. Females did not respond to ( E )-2-hexenal, or ( E )-2-hexenyl acetate. The behavioural responses were concentration dependent; the highest tested concentration of ( Z )-3-hexenyl acetate was repellent to females of this species.
6 Adult males did not discriminate between air passing over wheat plants and air from a purified airstream. Males did not respond to any tested synthetic compound at any concentration.
7 The present study demonstrates for the first time that adult females of wheat stem sawfly display innate behaviours in response to synthetic volatiles. These results provide a basis for the potential development of resistant wheat varieties and for the development of semiochemically-based pest management.