title: VOCs-Mediated Location of Olive Fly Larvae by the Braconid Parasitoid Psyttalia concolor: A Multivariate Comparison among VOC Bouquets from Three Olive Cultivars.
abstract: Herbivorous activity induces plant indirect defenses, as the emission of herbivorous-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), which could be used by parasitoids for host location. Psyttalia concolor is a larval pupal endoparasitoid, attacking a number of tephritid flies including B. oleae. In this research, we investigated the olfactory cues routing host location behavior of P. concolor towards B. oleae larvae infesting three different olive cultivars. VOCs from infested and healthy fruits were identified using GC-MS analyses. In two-choice behavioral assays, P. concolor females preferred infested olive cues, which also evoked ovipositional probing by female wasps. GC-MS analysis showed qualitative and quantitative differences among volatiles emitted by infested and healthy olives. Volatile emissions were peculiar for each cultivar analyzed. Two putative HIPVs were detected in infested fruits, regardless of the cultivar, the monoterpene (E)-β-ocimene, and the sesquiterpene (E-E)-α-farnesene. Our study adds basic knowledge to the behavioral ecology of P. concolor. From an applied point of view, the field application of the above-mentioned VOCs may help to enhance effectiveness of biological control programs and parasitoid mass-rearing techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giunti
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Flamini
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D060434:Herbivory / Q000187:drug effects; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000187:drug effects*; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000469:parasitology; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds