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Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of female African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné, to host plant volatiles.

Ogah, EO; Smart, LE; Woodcock, CM; Caulfield, JC; Birkett, MA; Pickett, JA; Nwilene, FE; Bruce, T

Authors

EO Ogah

LE Smart

CM Woodcock

JC Caulfield

MA Birkett

JA Pickett

FE Nwilene



Abstract

African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné, is a major pest of rice in Africa. Depsite its economic importance, its chemical ecology is not well understood. Here, we assessed behavioral and electrophysiological responses of O. oryzivora to host plant volatiles. In olfactometer bioassays, mated female O. oryzivora were attracted to volatiles emitted from intact rice plants but were repelled by volatiles collected from plants infested by conspecifics. In a choice test, there was a preference for volatiles from uninfested plants over those from infested plants. Coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography analyses of panicle volatiles isolated four electrophysiologically active components: (S)-linalool, 4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, (E)-caryophyllene, and (R/S)-(E)-nerolidol. A synthetic blend of volatiles at the same concentration and ratio as that from an intact plant was attractive to mated females, whereas a blend based on the ratio of volatiles from an infested plant was repellent. This suggests that O. oryzivora uses olfaction for host plant recognition. The identification of blends of volatiles emitted by plants that can both attract and repel O. oryzivora may aid the development of sustainable control measures.

Acceptance Date Oct 20, 2016
Publication Date Nov 4, 2016
Journal Journal of Chemical Ecology
Print ISSN 0098-0331
Publisher Springer Verlag
Pages 13 - 16
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-016-0788-6
Keywords Cecidomyiidae, Diptera, Host location, Insect-plant interactions, Olfactometer, Pest management, Plant volatile, Semiochemicals, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Diptera, Electrophysiological Phenomena, Female, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Host-Parasit
Publisher URL https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10886-016-0788-6