Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were collected from damaged and intact mulberry leaves (Morus alba L., Moraceae) and from Hyphantria cunea larvae by headspace absorption with Super Q columns. We identified their constituents using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and evaluated the responses of male H. cunea antennae to the compounds using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection coupled with electroantennographic detection. Eleven VOC constituents were found to stimulate antennae of male H. cunea moths: β-ocimene, hexanal, cis-3-hexenal, limonene, trans-2-hexenal, cyclohexanone, cis-2-penten-1-ol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, trans-3-hexen-1-ol, and 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanol. Nine of these chemicals were released by intact, mechanically-damaged, and herbivore-damaged leaves, while cis-2-penten-1-ol was released only by intact and mechanically-damaged leaves and β-ocimene was released only by herbivore-damaged leaves. Results from wind tunnel experiments conducted with volatile components indicated that male moths were significantly more attracted to herbivory-induced volatiles than the solvent control. Furthermore, male moths' attraction to a sex pheromone lure was increased by herbivory-induced compounds and β-ocimene, but reduced by cis-2-penten-1-ol. A proof long-range field trapping experiment showed that the efficiency of sex pheromone lures in trapping male moths was increased by β-ocimene and reduced by cis-2-penten-1-ol.
Highlights
The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), is native to North America but spread into central Europe and eastern Asia in the 1940s [1]
Chemical and electrophysiological analyses The gas chromatography (GC)-MS and GC-EAD analyses showed that 11 compounds elicited electrophysiological responses: hexanal, cis-3hexenal, limonene, trans-2-hexenal, cyclohexanone, cis-2-penten1-ol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, trans-3-hexen-1-ol, b-ocimene, and 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanol (Figure 1)
Damage-induced volatiles that were not released by intact leaves, but could be detected from both mechanically- and herbivore-damaged leaves, were trans-3hexen-1-ol, cis-3-hexenal, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 2,4-dimethyl3-pentanol and cyclohexanene
Summary
The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), is native to North America but spread into central Europe and eastern Asia in the 1940s [1]. In China, this species was first found in Liaoning Province in 1979 and has since been introduced into other regions, such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, Shandong, and Shanxi provinces [2]. This polyphagous defoliator has caused huge damage to forests, urban ornamental trees, and agricultural crops in China because of its wide host range [2]. More than 30 years after its initial invasion, H. cunea is widely distributed in eastern and northeastern China. The major hosts of H. cunea in China are mulberry, poplar and rock maple, which are all different from those in their native area [4]. Mulberry is especially prone to herbivory by H. cunea, because of the plant’s high density in China for silkworm breeding and agriculture
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