Differential Attractiveness of Potato Tuber Volatiles to Phthorimaea operculella (Gelechiidae) and the Predator Orius insidiosus (Anthocoridae)

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 33; no. 10; pp. 1845 - 1855
• Main Authors: Arab, Alberto, Trigo, José Roberto, Lourenção, André Luiz, Peixoto, Aiane Michele, Ramos, Fernanda, Bento, José Mauricio Simões
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY New York : Springer-Verlag 01-10-2007; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; Chemotaxis; crop damage; Female; foraging; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemiptera - physiology; herbivore-induced plant volatiles; host location; Larvae; methyl jasmonate; Moths - physiology; olfactometry; Orius insidiosus; Phthorimaea operculella; Plant Tubers - chemistry; Potatoes; predator-prey relationships; predatory insects; prey location; Solanum tuberosum; Solanum tuberosum - chemistry; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Time Factors; tritrophic interactions; tuber volatiles; tubers; Vegetables; volatile compounds; Volatilization; Attractant; Insecta; Tritrophic system; Orius insidiosus; Heteroptera; Phthorimaea operculella; Induced defense; Pest; Entomophagous; Dicotyledones; Plant volatiles; Angiospermae; Tuber; Plant growth substance; Gelechiidae; Solanaceae; Jasmonic acid; Volatile compound; Terpenoid; Attraction; Tritrophic interaction; Solanum tuberosum; Methyl jasmonate; Induced response; Vegetable crop; Animal plant relation; Anthocoridae; Arthropoda; Lepidoptera; Spermatophyta; Predator; Invertebrata
• DOI: 10.1007/s10886-007-9358-2
• EISSN: 1573-1561
• ISSN: 0098-0331

The behavioral responses of the potato tuberworm moth Phthorimaea operculella and the polyphagous predator Orius insidiosus to volatiles emanating from exposed tubers were studied by four-arm olfactometer bioassays. Mated females of P. operculella distinguished volatiles released by intact potato tubers from volatiles damaged mechanically or by conspecific larvae. Volatiles from intact potato tubers were attractive to them. On the other hand, unmated females of P. operculella did not respond to tuber volatiles. Adults of O. insidiosus were attracted to volatiles from tubers damaged by P. operculella larvae, but did not respond to intact or mechanically damaged tubers. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) was the only compound identified from the headspace of potato tubers (GC-MS of direct headspace sampling). The amount varied with the type of induction, being 0.001 ± 0.0003 ng g-¹ in tissues of intact fresh tubers, 0.002 ± 0.0007 ng g-¹ in mechanically damaged tubers, and showing a six- to tenfold increase in P. operculella damaged tubers (0.090 ± 0.006 ng g-¹). Behavioral bioassays with synthetic MeJA confirmed that the response of the insects is dependent on MeJA concentration. Mated females of P. operculella showed the highest response at 0.001 ng g-¹ (concentration released by intact tubers), whereas O. insidiosus showed the highest response, between 0.01 and 0.05 ng g-¹, which is close to the concentration released by P. operculella damaged tubers. Based on these results, we postulate that P. operculella and O. insidiosus have adapted their responses to plant volatiles differently, enabling them to locate suitable hosts or prey.