Abstract
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) poses a major threat to fruit and vegetable production in the United States and throughout the world. New attractants and detection methods could improve control strategies for this invasive pest. In this study, we developed a method that combined thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of tea tree essential oil (TTO) (Melaleuca alternifolia) with short-range bioassays to isolate attractive kairomones for male C. capitata. After development, the TLC chromatogram indicated that TTO separated into five major spots, designated as zones 1 to 5. When the TLC plate was exposed to flies, zones 1 and 3 were strongly attractive to male C. capitata. To confirm activity, the developed TLC plate was cut into five zones which were then tested in short-range bioassays. Again, flies were observed to aggregate around zones 1 and 3, which corresponded with Rf values of 0.93 and 0.59. In addition, zones 1 to 5 were separated using preparative-TLC, and olfactory responses to volatile emissions from the five fractions were quantified by electroantennography (EAG). Highest amplitude EAG responses were recorded with fractions 1 and 3, further supporting the bioactivity of these samples. In conclusion, a TLC-based bioassay system can provide an effective, rapid screening protocol for initial isolation of insect kairomones from complex mixtures such as essential oils or plant extracts. Further analysis of TTO fractions 1 and 3 is needed to identify the specific constituents attractive to male C. capitata.
Highlights
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) (Figure 1) is one of the most important agricultural pests worldwide due to the direct damage it causes to a wide range of fruits and vegetables [1,2]
Results from Experiment 1 found that more flies were attracted to 10% tree essential oil (TTO) that was added to filter paper than to the same amount added to a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plate, but that there was no difference between TLC plate without separation and TLC plate after separation (Table 1)
We have developed a method to detect insect attractants against male medflies directly on TLC chromatograms from tea tree oil
Summary
The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) (Figure 1) is one of the most important agricultural pests worldwide due to the direct damage it causes to a wide range of fruits and vegetables [1,2]. Due to the global economic threat posed by C. capitata, extensive research has been conducted on the development of lures and trapping systems for this pest. In 1956, angelica seed oil (Angelica archangelica L.) was found to be highly attractive for medfly males [8,9]. Lures containing this essential oil were used extensively iBniomthoelec1u9le5s62–01209,5170,exrFaOdRicPaEtiEoRnRpErVoIgEWram in Florida, estimated to cost $11 million [6]. Subsequent st2uodfie1s6 (Tsticala[[mmbTa[mu+nr211hornnnyMi430rieei)momddml1-e–],PetdlwLα1.h9sip1fealftoe4f-6Ciyelr4dioyiemcd,ynsa1sdl2]oucolnc.lpu5estiu[smpntyeatih6,rphtrve2rancdiaee]Apoaieldl6ee.ddntlortatn[]S(htigaaht;tqαrTec-iuheltaameluhan-.rtMmiiebttcxrtvtsao(oiops-aim1avsaneLwo2vbepc9nltedltn)euqeitaet7aeiema,omltsunit3ev-psnimyrt1dnee)i5eueretcla-nsersota,qentcdsoe,ytirgtdpoauwtmisahdnteersrdfflaithaeabdrttsneere(iluheismosr+euaafsnhedtsitsxpctrmh)ghehatuirie-yohil[ievneeαicordfg2lbfesferaam-r2Fhofree4cltleso,oslrieqo2(aahpaoflahcmo]ue3lipmtorho,tnoostr]etiarwwoosey.drwwonaa5etrafnnanaetcoA)tnnicoetTt-dnstim[tsrehcta,lfMi1agteotdhvenathi5ohcrsrhntileLtv–tayynisooit,aance1ttcienpeurnlhtcgro8oauc(tlgi[mtaαt+]havorn-1rra.hni2)ne-meeng5iT-inc-mcrsstnαT,Tmord1aepooieMis-iMe9npdfisaomcestnd–gaoatusrtLsiL2emrleheeaennphnua2dd[nlnpydaioid1epr]1scletple.ebrd3u9sciatlntiaa,Tywy6flirh-n1[smlenel1M2cay4egi[Paolv4t(t,eiiaeso2aeLsiTt]emedmlffnerh.5ytrsMd2tdihde,oaaenC-is2,mcbmexidltLe6orilesqtouamie])ait[mmieucv;nim1tcqki5tlayphasse0elapuetaelnol–t-iatiasaieaidn1lho1wtrm.rmtpit-nifn4eattehncael(aira]eties1asetvgi.aeriptsttsnt9rvsuaecesArarbf7tmsearptrrorneo[,oa3esacenh2gdsdftonsx)tlqho2teraqarytu(tptu,vaerne,+oor2hulodhmeeda)httf3eiamd-nlhiett]iieαlteesrgf.teneutisooyo]r-4nrhsAs,rcpnlfinamha(ceeloowclceerFnoteartophoifrt,nvhlwlvgbaoidsonaeavieoeesetrctiereeltuni5loiiisnmidecainmdc[g)ghfftre1i-aagehasohmssocp5ytyycanihtwsoo,[rneTron1nneic1laffaaton9vMetot5ocpcrtThThr–dei–trtrtolnLiee2MiMara1ihanc-nseot2enp8naa2iiidLLd]igact]ssstt-ll.,. feosrseunsteiailnociolsmmmaekrecsiatlhliusrseess.qAuditderiptieonnealimrepseraacrctihcails fnoereudseeditnociodmenmtiefyrcaialtlelrunraetsi.vAe dndatiutiroanlasloruersceeasrcohf mis endefledyeadtttroacitdaennttsif[y12a,l2t7e]r.native natural sources of medfly attractants [12,27]
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