Abstract
Simple SummarySignaling chemicals produced by one organism that bring about a behavioral response in a recipient organism are known as semiochemicals, with pheromones being a well-known example. Semiochemicals have been widely used to monitor and control insect pests in agricultural and forestry settings, but they have not been widely used in weed biological control. Here, we list the few examples of semiochemical use in the practice of classical weed biological control, where a natural enemy (biocontrol agent) from the native range of the plant is introduced into the new invaded range. Uses of semiochemicals include monitoring of biocontrol agents (sex pheromones), keeping biocontrol agents together long enough for them to become well established (aggregation pheromones) and repelling agents from areas where they may be unwanted (host or non-host plant volatile organic deterrents). We make the case that given the vast potential of biological control in suppressing invasive plants it is well worth developing and utilizing semiochemicals to enhance biocontrol programs.In agricultural systems, chemical ecology and the use of semiochemicals have become critical components of integrated pest management. The categories of semiochemicals that have been used include sex pheromones, aggregation pheromones, and plant volatile compounds used as attractants as well as repellents. In contrast, semiochemicals are rarely utilized for management of insects used in weed biological control. Here, we advocate for the benefit of chemical ecology principles in the implementation of weed biocontrol by describing successful utilization of semiochemicals for release, monitoring and manipulation of weed biocontrol agent populations. The potential for more widespread adoption and successful implementation of semiochemicals justifies multidisciplinary collaborations and increased research on how semiochemicals and chemical ecology can enhance weed biocontrol programs.
Highlights
Invasive plant species are a global problem, impacting and threatening the sustainability of agriculture and ecosystems [1,2]
The study of semiochemicals and their impact on behavior is known as chemical ecology, and the principles of chemical ecology are instructive in defining semiochemically mediated interactions between a host plant and co-evolved herbivores, such as those used in weed biocontrol
The steps occur in specialized laboratory settings where behaviorally active volatile compounds are captured from an air stream passed over living insects or plants in settings designed to mimic field conditions., The mix of collected volatile compounds is fractionated using gas chromatography (GC), and antennally active compounds are identified from the fractionated compounds using electroantennagraphy detection (EAD) to produce parallel plots (GC-EAD) [20], which are useful in identification of volatile compounds that the insect may perceive in the field (Figure 1)
Summary
Invasive plant species are a global problem, impacting and threatening the sustainability of agriculture and ecosystems [1,2]. The study of semiochemicals and their impact on behavior is known as chemical ecology, and the principles of chemical ecology are instructive in defining semiochemically mediated interactions between a host plant and co-evolved herbivores, such as those used in weed biocontrol. The field of weed biocontrol has been slow to adopt principles of chemical ecology even though it has been long recognized as critical to understanding host range [7] and the behavioral and physiological interactions between and among host plants and biocontrol agents could be better understood and manipulated using methods developed by chemical ecologists. Once an agent has been determined to be safe, and has been approved for open field release, there are further ways that chemical ecology could be used in the implementation of weed biocontrol to increase agent impact on the target plant and enable better integration of weed biocontrol into invasive plant management programs. Suckling et al [9] Suckling et al [10] Suckling et al [11] Suckling et al [11] Cao et al [12] Tóth et al [13] Heath et al [14] Cossé et al [15]
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