Abstract
The alfalfa seed chalcid (ASC),Bruchophagus roddi, is a monophagous pest of alfalfa that parasitizes developing seeds. To further understand the olfactory basis of host-plant recognition by ASCs, we recorded electroantennograms (EAGs) from females and males to 39 volatiles from both alfalfa and red clover. The chemoreceptive sensitivity of ASCs was selective for certain general classes of compounds, defined by their carbon-chain length (C6 and C8), structure (aliphatics and phenolics), isomerism, and/or functional group (acetates, ketones, and alcohols). The compounds that elicited the largest EAGs were ranked as follows: (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate > hexyl acetate ≥ acetophenone ≥ octan-3-one ≥ methyl salicylate > octan-3-ol > oct-1-en-3-one > oct-1-en-3-ol ≥ (E)-β-ocimene ≥ (Z)- and (E)-3-hexen-1-ols. Over half the test compounds elicited significantly different responses between the sexes, and female antennal responses exceeded those of males for twice the number of these volatiles. Relationships of the tested volatiles to host-plant composition, EAG responses, and ASC behaviors showed no consistent correlations. However, nearly all of the host-plant volatiles known to stimulate behavioral activity also elicited moderate to potent EAG responses.
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