Use of slow-release plant infochemicals to control aphids: a first investigation in a Belgian wheat field.

Haibo Zhou,Longsheng Chen,Julian Chen,Yong Liu,Frédéric Francis

doi:10.1038/srep31552

Abstract

Using infochemicals to develop a push–pull strategy in pest control is a potential way to promote sustainable crop production. Infochemicals from plant essential oils were mixed with paraffin oil for slow release in field experiments on wheat to control the population density of cereal aphids and to enhance their natural enemies. (Z)-3-Hexenol (Z3H) attracted Metopolophum dirhodum and Sitobion avenae, the predominant species on wheat in Belgium, and may be a useful infochemical for aphid control by attracting aphids away from field plots. Release of (E)-β-farnesene (EBF) or a garlic extract (GE) led to a significant decrease in the abundance of wheat aphids. The main natural enemies of cereal aphids found were lacewings (47.8%), hoverflies (39.4%), and ladybirds (12.8%). Ladybird abundance varied little before the end of the wheat-growing season. Our results suggest that these chemicals can form the basis of a “push–pull” strategy for aphid biological control, with GE and EBF acting as a pest- and beneficial-pulling stimulus and Z3H for aphid pulling.

Highlights

Using infochemicals to develop a push–pull strategy in pest control is a potential way to promote sustainable crop production
Several wheat nontarget aphid species were recorded in traps: Cavariella aegopodii (Scopoli), Aphis fabae (Scopoli), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), Myzus persicae (Sultzer), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), Cavariella ihedbaldi, Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley), Phyllaphis fagi (Linnaeus), Chaitophorus spp. and Capitophorus spp
The densities of cereal aphids and their natural enemies in wheat were significantly influenced by the test infochemical releasers, mainly with EBF and garlic extract (GE), supporting the view that these volatiles play a significant role in the behavioural ecology of aphids and demonstrating the potential use of the volatiles in pest control

Summary

Introduction

Using infochemicals to develop a push–pull strategy in pest control is a potential way to promote sustainable crop production. Infochemicals from plant essential oils were mixed with paraffin oil for slow release in field experiments on wheat to control the population density of cereal aphids and to enhance their natural enemies. A further study revealed that these volatiles could increase the sensitivity of aphids to disturbance and promote mobility of nonsettled individuals[21] Because they are a natural emission from plants, essential oils do not pose the toxicity problems of pesticides to animals and the environment[15,22]. Plant semiochemicals should be considered as potential reliable infochemicals in relation to to repelling pests and attracting natural enemies of these pests Their long-distance effects and easy production and manipulation make these molecules very good prospects for use with crops by spraying or Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to www.nature.com/scientificreports/

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Conclusion