Abstract
Several herbivorous insects utilize plant chemical cues to identify hosts for feeding. The role of smell in host plant detection by Mahanarva spectabilis (Distant) remains largely unknown. In this study, assays were applied to assess M. spectabilis olfactory responses to forage grasses (Pennisetum purpureum cvs. Roxo Botucatu and Pioneiro; Panicum maximum cvs. Makueni and Tanzânia; Hyparrhenia rufa cv. Jaraguá; Melinis minutiflora; Cynodon dactylon cv. Tifton; Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú; and Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk). Bioassays were performed using a Y-olfactometer to evaluate the behavior of adult M. spectabilis to forage damaged and undamaged by insects. M. spectabilis preferred volatiles of undamaged Basilisk and Pioneiro. Repellent behavior by M. spectabilis to cospecifics was recorded for plant volatiles from damaged Marandú. The mixture of volatiles from undamaged forage grasses differed from that of forage grasses damaged by insects. Forage grasses showed a greater diversity of compounds after damage, including menthone, eucalyptol and camphor, which are compounds likely to cause loss of attractiveness or repellence. Our results demonstrate that M. spectabilis employs plant chemical cues in its choice of hosts. This fact may contribute to strategies of integrated management against this pest.
Highlights
Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), which are pests found on forage grasses of tropical America, impair plant growth and lead to low production and poor quality[1]
The authors suggested that the insect nonpreference for these plants and its preference for others, such as Brachiaria decumbens cultivars Jaraguá, Roxo de Botucactu and Pioneiro, may be related to volatile compounds released by the plants
The present study evaluates the olfactory responses of M. spectabilis to different forage plants and identifies the response-interfering chemical compounds released by these forage plants
Summary
Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), which are pests found on forage grasses of tropical America, impair plant growth and lead to low production and poor quality[1]. In endeavors to identify spittlebug-resistant forage grasses, a recent study on the performance and feeding behavior of M. spectabilis Silva et al.[7] revealed antixenosis or nonpreference resistance mechanisms of Melinis minutiflora and Panicum maximum cv. Each plant species releases a mixture of specific volatile organic compounds that play crucial roles in ecological interactions with other organisms[8]. These compounds are components of the plant defense system against www.nature.com/scientificreports/
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
