title: Male-produced pheromone in the European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio.
abstract: A male-produced pheromone that attracts both males and females was identified for the European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, a serious pest of pine trees. Males displayed excitatory behaviors when placed in groups, and were attracted to the odors from males that were 2-5-d-old, but not to odors from males that were 0-1-d-old. An unsaturated short-chain alcohol, (Z)-3-decen-1-ol, was discovered in samples collected on SuperQ filters over groups of males and identified by using micro-derivatization reactions and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The compound was not detected in volatile samples from females. Gas chromatography coupled electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) of antennae from males exposed to male headspace odors produced strong antennal responses to the main peak of (Z)-3-decen-1-ol, as well as to an unknown minor component that had a similar retention time. Antennae from both males and females responded to synthetic (Z)-3-decen-1-ol. Several different synthetic candidates for the GC-EAD active minor components were selected based on GC-MS and GC-EAD responses to male headspace collections. These synthetic compounds were tested for antennal activity using GC-EAD, and those that produced strong responses were blended with the major component and tested for male attraction in the Y-tube olfactometer at different concentrations and ratios. Males tested in the Y-tube olfactometer were attracted to a synthetic blend of (Z)-3-decen-1-ol and (Z)-4-decen-1-ol at a ratio of 100:1. Whereas the addition of some suspected minor compounds reduced attraction, the addition of a third compound found in male emanations that produced strong male antennal responses, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (at a ratio of 100:1:1), resulted in attraction of both males (Y-tube and wind tunnel) and females (wind tunnel).
authors.affiliation: Otis Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST, Buzzards Bay, MA 02542, USA. miriam.f.cooperband@aphis.usda.gov
authors.forename: Miriam F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cooperband
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Böröczky
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartness
authors.forename: Tappey H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Kelley E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Zylstra
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tumlinson
authors.forename: Victor C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Mastro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014863:Wasps / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010675:Pheromones