Volatiles emitted from tea plants infested by Ectropis obliqua larvae are attractive to conspecific moths.
Herbivore-induced plant volatiles have been reported to play a role in the host-searching behavior of herbivores. However, next to nothing is known about the effect of volatiles emitted from tea plants infested by Ectropis obliqua larvae on the behavior of conspecific adults. Here, we found that tea plants infested by E. obliqua caterpillars for 24 h were more attractive to both virgin male and female E. obliqua adults than were intact, uninfested tea plants; moreover, mated female E. obliqua moths were more attracted by infested tea plants and preferentially oviposited on these plants, whereas male moths were repelled by infested plants once they had mated. Volatile analysis revealed that the herbivore infestation dramatically increased the emission of volatiles. Among these volatiles, 17 compounds elicited antennal responses from both male and female virginal moths. Using a Y-tube olfactometer, we found that 3 of the 17 chemicals, benzyl alcohol, (Z)-3-hexenyl hexanoate, and (Z)-3-hexenal, were attractive, but two compounds, linalool and benzyl nitril, were repellent to virgin male and female moths. One chemical, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, was attractive only to virgin males. Mated females were attracted by three compounds, (Z)-3-hexenyl hexanoate, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, and (Z)-3-hexenal; whereas mated males were repelled by (Z)-3-hexenol. The findings provide new insights into the interaction between tea plants and the herbivores, and may help scientists develop new measures with which to control E. obliqua.
Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310008, China.
Xiao-Ling
XL
Sun
Guo-Chang
GC
Wang
Yu
Y
Gao
Xin-Zhong
XZ
Zhang
Zhao-Jun
ZJ
Xin
Zong-Mao
ZM
Chen
D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D005260:Female; D060434:Herbivory; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D010058:Oviposition; D013662:Tea / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
D013662:Tea; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds