Identification of the Volatile Components of E802 Mazoferm Steepwater, a Condensed Fermented Corn Extractive Highly Attractive to the Mexican Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

A dynamic headspace analysis was performed on the volatile components of E802 Mazoferm steepwater, a condensed fermented corn extractive, that is highly attractive in laboratory and field tests to adult Mexican fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens (Loew). Chemical characterization was accomplished by capillary GC and GC/MS methods. A total of 19 compounds were identified, and these were comprised of 6 alcohols, 5 esters, 3 aldehydes, 2 lactones, an alkyl furan, an acid, and a trisulfide. When E802 Mazoferm steepwater was analyzed at pH 3.9, the five most abundant compounds in the volatiles (in descending order) were 3-methyl-1-butanol (43.9%), ethyl lactate (23.7%), ethanol (15.4%), 2-methyl-1-propanol (12.8%), and ethyl acetate (0.71%). At pH 8.0, the same five compounds were again the most abundant. Except for a reversal in order for the first two compounds, the order was the same: ethyl lactate (37.3%), 3-methyl-1-butanol (32.5%), ethanol (14.2%), 2-methyl-1-propanol (10.4%), and ethyl acetate (3.09%). Keywords: Anastrepha ludens; food bait; attractant; E802 Mazoferm steepwater; volatiles; headspace analysis; lure