Detecting Host-Plant Volatiles with Odorant Receptors from (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

is a global pest of stone and pome fruits. The sensitive olfactory system plays a crucial role in regulating key behavioral activities of insects and relies heavily on general odorant receptors (ORs) to detect host-plant volatiles. In this study, three general OR genes from (, , and ) were identified. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that expression was considerably higher in adults and adult antennae than in any other life stages and body parts, respectively. Moreover, the expression of was significantly higher in the antennae of females than in those of males, with a peak in the antennae of 3-days-old adult females. GmolOR20 and GmolOR21 displayed no responses to any of the odorant compounds tested in the oocyte system. GmolOR12 was tuned mainly to 5 of the 47 odorant components tested (including decanol, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, and decanal), and the response to aldehydes among the 5 components was the highest. Additionally, they all elicited female and male antennae electroantennogram responses, and the aldehydes elicited the highest response among the 5 components. These results suggested that in the olfactory system plays an important role in sensing aldehydes and that is involved in sensing host-plant volatiles. These findings provide insight into the possibility of using host-plant volatiles for the control of .