title: Olfactory neuron responsiveness and pheromone blend preference in hybrids between Ostrinia furnacalis and Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).
abstract: The olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) and behavioral responses of hybrids between the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis, and the E-strain European corn borer (ECB(E)), Ostrinia nubilalis were examined and compared to the parental populations. In hybrids and both parents, the large-spike-size ORN was capable of responding to all four pheromone components of ACB and ECB, despite differences in which compounds elicited the greatest spike frequency in each population. There was a small-spiking ORN more narrowly tuned to the minor pheromone components in both ACB and ECB(E). In hybrids the homologous small-spiking ORN was tuned primarily to the ECB(E) minor pheromone component, with some responsiveness to the ACB minor component. Both species and all the hybrids had an intermediate spike-size ORN tuned primarily to their common behavioral antagonist. Dominance of responsiveness to the ECB(E) versus the ACB minor pheromone component on the small-spiking ORN may explain the greater tendency of hybrids to fly upwind to the ECB(E) pheromone blend than the ACB blend. This finding points toward a distinct evolutionary role for this ORN in allowing a pheromone shift.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Chemical Ecology Laboratory, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. michael.domingue@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Domingue
authors.forename: Callie J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Linn
authors.forename: Wendell L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Roelofs
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002678:Chimera; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology*; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D012724:Sex Attractants