(11Z)-hexadec-11-enal enhances the attractiveness of Diatraea saccharalis main pheromone component in wind tunnel experiments

Abstract:  GC-EAD and GC-MS analysis of pheromone gland extracts of sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis , revealed two antennally active compounds, (9 Z ,11 E )-hexadeca-9,1-dienal and (11 Z )-hexadec-11-enal, in approximately 10 : 1 ratio. Various doses of identified compounds were investigated in wind tunnel experiments individually and in a 10 : 1 ratio. At all tested doses (9 Z ,11 E )-hexadeca-9,1-dienal alone elicited upwind orientation and source location only in a minority of tested males. An admixture of (11 Z )-hex-11-enal enhanced the attractiveness of (9 Z ,11 E )-hexadeca-9,11-dienal significantly. This two-component blend (100 pg) was as attractive as natural pheromone extracted from three female pheromone glands. The data suggest that (11 Z )-hexadec-11-enal is a part of the D. saccharalis sex pheromone.