Attraction of female grapevine moth to common and specific olfactory cues from 2 host plants.
In herbivorous insects with more than 1 host plant, attraction to host odor could conceptually be mediated by common compounds, by specific compounds released by each plant or by combinations of common and specific compounds. We have compared the attraction of female grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana, with specific and common (shared) odors from 2 different plants: a wild host (Daphne gnidium) and a recently colonized host (Vitis vinifera). Odor blends eliciting female attraction to V. vinifera have previously been identified. In this study, olfactory cues from D. gnidium were identified by electroantennographic detection and chemical analysis. The attraction of mated females to synthetic odor blends was then tested in a wind tunnel bioassay. Female attraction was elicited by a blend of compounds released by both from D. gnidium and V. vinifera and by 2 blends with the compounds released specifically from each host. However, more complete odor blends of the 2 plants elicited stronger attraction. The common compounds in combination with the specific compounds of D. gnidium were the most attractive blend. This blend was tested with the common compounds presented both in the ratio emitted by D. gnidium and by V. vinifera, but there was no difference in female attraction. Our findings suggest that specific as well as common plant odor cues play a role in L. botrana host recognition and that there is plasticity in attraction to partial blends. The results are discussed in relation to mechanisms behind host odor recognition and the evolution of insect-plant associations.
Tasin
Marco
M
Research and Innovation Centre, Edmund Mach Foundation, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy. marco.tasin@iasma.it
Bäckman
Anna-Carin
AC
Anfora
Gianfranco
G
Carlin
Silvia
S
Ioriatti
Claudio
C
Witzgall
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001681:Biological Assay; D003463:Cues; D032364:Daphne / Q000737:chemistry*; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005426:Flight, Animal; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D009812:Odorants; D012903:Smell; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014835:Volatilization