title: Identification of the aggregation pheromone of the melon thrips, Thrips palmi.
abstract: The objective of this study was to identify the aggregation pheromone of the melon thrips Thrips palmi, a major pest of vegetable and ornamental plants around the world. The species causes damage both through feeding activities and as a vector of tospoviruses, and is a threat to world trade and European horticulture. Improved methods of detecting and controlling this species are needed and the identification of an aggregation pheromone will contribute to this requirement. Bioassays with a Y-tube olfactometer showed that virgin female T. palmi were attracted to the odour of live males, but not to that of live females, and that mixed-age adults of both sexes were attracted to the odour of live males, indicating the presence of a male-produced aggregation pheromone. Examination of the headspace volatiles of adult male T. palmi revealed only one compound that was not found in adult females. It was identified by comparison of its mass spectrum and chromatographic details with those of similar compounds. This compound had a structure like that of the previously identified male-produced aggregation pheromone of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. The compound was synthesised and tested in eggplant crops infested with T. palmi in Japan. Significantly greater numbers of both males and females were attracted to traps baited with the putative aggregation pheromone compared to unbaited traps. The aggregation pheromone of T. palmi is thus identified as (R)-lavandulyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate by spectroscopic, chromatographic and behavioural analysis.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, School of Life Sciences, Huxley Building, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sudhakar V S
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Akella
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, School of Life Sciences, Huxley Building, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: William D J
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Yao-bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murai
authors.affiliation: Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Keith F A
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, School of Life Sciences, Huxley Building, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James G C
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D010571:Pest Control; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D061149:Thysanoptera / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D012724:Sex Attractants
references.citation: J Chem Ecol. 2013 Apr;39(4):559-68
references.pmid: 23519504
references.citation: J Chem Ecol. 2004 Jan;30(1):167-74
references.pmid: 15074664
references.citation: PLoS One. 2013 Nov 25;8(11):e80787
references.pmid: 24282554
references.citation: J Chem Ecol. 2005 Jun;31(6):1369-79
references.pmid: 16222777
references.citation: Annu Rev Phytopathol. 2005;43:459-89
references.pmid: 16078892