Abstract
Associations between yeasts and insect herbivores are widespread, and these inter-kingdom interactions play a crucial role in yeast and insect ecology and evolution. We report a survey of insect attraction to live yeast from a community ecology perspective. In the summer of 2013 we screened live yeast cultures of Metschnikowia pulcherrima, M. andauensis, M. hawaiiensis, M. lopburiensis, and Cryptococcus tephrensis in an organic apple orchard. More than 3,000 arthropods from 3 classes, 15 orders, and 93 species were trapped; ca. 79% of the trapped specimens were dipterans, of which 43% were hoverflies (Syrphidae), followed by Sarcophagidae, Phoridae, Lauxaniidae, Cecidomyidae, Drosophilidae, and Chironomidae. Traps baited with M. pulcherrima, M. andauensis, and C. tephrensis captured typically 2.4 times more specimens than control traps; traps baited with M. pulcherrima, M. hawaiiensis, M. andauensis, M. lopburiensis and C. tephrensis were more species-rich than unbaited control traps. We conclude that traps baited with live yeasts of the genera Metschnikowia and Cryprococcus are effective attractants and therefore of potential value for pest control. Yeast-based monitoring or attract-and-kill techniques could target pest insects or enhance the assemblage of beneficial insects. Manipulation of insect behavior through live yeast cultures should be further explored for the development of novel plant protection techniques.
Highlights
Yeasts are widely distributed in most terrestrial and aqueous environments (Lachance, 2006)
Traps baited with C. tephrensis caught similar numbers of R. cerasi as M. andauensis, and significantly more individuals, compared to traps baited with M. pulcherrima, M. hawaiiensis, M. lopburiensis and control traps (GLM, F = 3.12; df = 5, 216; P < 0.05) (Table 5)
Traps baited with M. pulcherrima, M. hawaiiensis, and C. tephrensis captured significantly more individuals of the family Lauxaniidae compared with control traps, while attraction to traps baited with M. andauensis and M. lopburiensis were not different from control traps (GLM, F = 5.99; df = 5, 270; P < 0.001) (Table 5)
Summary
Yeasts are widely distributed in most terrestrial and aqueous environments (Lachance, 2006) They are found on plant leaves (Limtong and Koowadjanakul, 2012), ephemeral flowers (Lachance et al, 2001), floral nectars (Pozo et al, 2011), as well as on animals (Ahearn, 1998; Yaman and Radek, 2008). Yeast species of the genus Cryptococcus can be found in the soil (Vishniac, 2002) or in the phyllosphere of several plants (Fonseca and Inácio, 2006) They are associated with bromeliads (Landell et al, 2009) as well as fruit trees including apple (Malus domestica), pear (Pyrus spp.), and plum (Prunus spp.) where they have been found on fruits, blossoms, or leaves (Vadkertiová et al, 2012). The overall research objectives were to survey the arthropod species composition and abundance, and the specificity of attraction to different yeasts
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