Department of Agro-environmental Sciences, Chemistry and Plant Protection, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
J Chem Ecol. 2011 Jan;37(1):49-56. doi: 10.1007/s10886-010-9893-0. Epub 2010 Dec 9.
Dryocosmus kuriphilus is one of the most damaging pests of Castanea spp. Behavioral, chemical, and electrophysiological investigations were employed to examine the role of plant volatiles for host location by this thelytokuos cynipid. Y-tube olfactometer bioassays showed that adult wasps are significantly attracted by C. sativa twigs with at least 1-hr-old mechanical damage. Odors of undamaged host seedlings, intact twigs, and twigs with a fresh mechanical damage were not attractive. Wasps were repelled by plant materials of the non-host Prunus laurocerasus. Fourteen compounds, mainly general green leaf volatiles, were identified in the head-space of attractive host plant twigs by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. All compounds elicited dose-dependent antennal responses in adult wasps. A synthetic blend comprising all identified compounds in the same ratio as in the attractive host source induced significant positive responses in Y-tube olfactometer bioassays. The study gives a basis for future identification of host plant attractants that could contribute to semiochemical-based monitoring and management practices of this pest.
栗瘿蜂是危害板栗属树种的最具破坏性的害虫之一。本研究采用行为学、化学生态学和电生理学方法，研究了栗瘿蜂对寄主植物挥发物的定位作用。Y 型嗅觉仪生物测定表明，成虫对至少 1 小时龄机械损伤的山核桃嫩枝具有显著的趋性。未受损的寄主幼苗、完整嫩枝和新鲜机械损伤嫩枝的气味没有吸引力。非寄主植物红叶李的植物材料对栗瘿蜂有驱避作用。通过气相色谱-质谱联用仪鉴定出在有吸引力的寄主植物嫩枝的顶空部位有 14 种化合物，主要为一般绿叶挥发物。所有化合物在成虫触角上均引起剂量依赖性的反应。在 Y 型嗅觉仪生物测定中，用与有吸引力的寄主源相同比例的所有鉴定化合物组成的合成混合物可引起显著的正反应。该研究为未来鉴定寄主植物引诱剂奠定了基础，这可能有助于该害虫的半化学监测和管理实践。
