Plant volatiles influence electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Lygus hesperus.
Previous laboratory studies have shown that the mirid Lygus hesperus is attracted to volatiles emitted from alfalfa; feeding damage increases the amounts of several of these volatiles, and visual cues can enhance attraction further. The present study tested single plant volatiles in electrophysiological and behavioral trials with L. hesperus. Electroantennogram (EAG) analyses indicated that antennae responded to most plant volatiles included in the test, and that when gender differences were observed, males usually were more responsive than females. Antennal responses to the alcohols ((E)-3-hexenol, (Z)-3-hexenol, 1-hexanol), the acetate (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, and the aldehyde (E)-2-hexenal were among the strongest. Moderate responses were observed for (E)-beta-ocimene, (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, (+/-)-linalool, and methyl salicylate. A dose dependent response was not observed for several terpenes (beta-myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, (+)-limonene, or both (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-)-alpha-pinenes). EAG responses, however, were not always consistent with behavioral assays. In Y-tube bioassays, males did not exhibit a positive behavioral response to any of the compounds tested. Instead, males were repelled by (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, (+/-)-linalool, (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, and methyl salicylate. In contrast, female L. hesperus moved upwind towards (R)-(+)-alpha-pinene, (E)-beta-ocimene, and (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, and showed a negative response towards (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (S)-(-)-alpha-pinene, and methyl salicylate. This study emphasizes the use of multiple approaches to better understand host plant finding in the generalist herbivore L. hesperus.
Williams
Livy
L
USDA-ARS Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research Unit, 920 Valley Rd., Reno, NV 89512, USA. livy.williams@ars.usda.gov
Blackmer
Jacquelyn L
JL
Rodriguez-Saona
Cesar
C
Zhu
Su
S
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000438:Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D020062:Heteroptera / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014835:Volatilization
D000085:Acetates; D000438:Alcohols; D000447:Aldehydes; D013729:Terpenes
J Chem Ecol. 2004 Aug;30(8):1509-29
15537156
J Chem Ecol. 2001 Oct;27(10):2013-28
11710608
J Comp Physiol A. 2001 Sep;187(7):509-19
11730298
J Chem Ecol. 2002 Sep;28(9):1733-47
12449502
J Chem Ecol. 2003 Dec;29(12):2735-48
14969360
Nature. 2001 Mar 29;410(6828):577-80
11279494
J Chem Ecol. 1995 Nov;21(11):1649-64
24233820
J Chem Ecol. 2004 Aug;30(8):1547-64
15537158
J Chem Ecol. 2009 Feb;35(2):201-8
19198949
J Chem Ecol. 1995 Aug;21(8):1217-27
24234527
Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2005 Feb;58(2):84-96
15660365
Annu Rev Entomol. 1997;42:371-91
15012318
J Chem Ecol. 1994 Jun;20(6):1329-54
24242342
Science. 1990 Nov 30;250(4985):1251-3
17829213
J Chem Ecol. 2005 Jun;31(6):1401-13
16222779
Oecologia. 1997 Apr;110(2):179-185
28307422
J Econ Entomol. 2007 Apr;100(2):366-74
17461060
J Chem Ecol. 1994 Dec;20(12):3251-67
24241990
J Chem Ecol. 2001 Jan;27(1):1-17
11382056
Plant Physiol. 1996 Jun;111(2):487-495
12226304