Kairomones from highly susceptible host to control banana pseudostem weevil, Odoiporus longicollis (Olivier)

Abstract

Abstract Odoiporus longicollis is a threatening pest found among the majority of banana plantations in India. This study was conducted using kairomones to determine a strategy for controlling the infestation by this pest. The kairomones were isolated by fractionation of headspace volatiles obtained from a highly preferable host, Poovan, and identified as fatty acid derivatives of Tetradecanoic acid and Hexadecanoic acid, which induced more response in female than male pests. 9-Octadecenal is a female-specific volatile and attracts male weevils for the performance of reproduction. Results showed that the host plant volatiles act as kairomones, and behavioral responses in male weevils to 9-Octadecenal, Hexadecanoic acid, and Tetradecanoic acid were recorded as 72.5%, 70%, and 67.5% of attraction, with the average time required to reach the target being 1.48, 1.57, and 2.36 min, respectively. Male and female weevils also exhibited responses of 60%, 55%, 50%, and 47.5% to Nonanal, Ethyl-4-ethoxy benzoate, 2-Decenal, and β-Ocimene, respectively, with the average time to reach the target being 3.10, 2.18, 3.02, and 3.47 min, respectively, for the attraction of the weevil, and it had significantly more attractant (p