Insect semiochemical research in Korea: Overview and prospects

Abstract

Rapid progress has been made in research on insect pheromones and other semiochemicals in Korea during the last two decades. Sex pheromone compositions have been identified in several major orchard and other horticultural moth pest species and some other species in Korea, such as Helicoverpa assulta, Grapholita molesta, Carposina sasakii, Adoxophyes orana, Lyonetia prunifoliella, Phyllonorycter ringoniella, Dichocrocis punctiferalis, Ostrinia furnacalis and Peridroma saucia. Some of these identified sex pheromones have already been successfully incorporated into IPM systems, and are now being used as direct and indirect pest control means in Korea. Korean populations of many of these species showed significant differences in pheromone compositions from those reported in the neighboring countries of Japan and China, suggesting that such interpopulational pheromone polymorphism is more common across the insect world than previously thought. Sex pheromone compositions were also identified in some aphid species in Korea such as Aphis spiraecola and Tuberocephalus momonis, and it was soon found that the aphid sex pheromone components were highly attractive to their predator lacewings. The presence of kairomones responsible for attracting egg parasitoids was shown in a pheromone component, hot pepper odor and male scale factor for H. assulta, and in male accessory glands for Lymantria dispar. Studies on the regulation of pheromone biosynthesis and release were carried out simultaneously in some species in Korea, resulting in the characterization of PBAN (pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide) in H. assulta and Adoxophyes sp. A semiochemical research system has been firmly established in Korea through these studies. In some areas, successful monitoring and mating disruption technology have been effectively transferred from researchers to the end users in Korea, which will soon be expanded to wider areas. Continuous attempts to identify and use semiochemicals as well as wider applications of semiochemicals in pest control are expected in Korea in the coming years. Since Korean research on semiochemicals does not cover vast areas due to limited resources, focused research and practical application will be needed for selected target insect species.