Yeast-derived volatiles orchestrate an insect-yeast mutualism with oriental armyworm moths.

ABSTRACT: Interactions among insects, plants, and microorganisms are fundamental to ecosystem dynamics, with floral nectar and pollen serving as key resources for various organisms. Yeasts, such as Metschnikowia reukaufii, commonly found in nectar, influence nectarial attraction through volatile compounds (VOCs), yet the underlying biological mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that isoamyl alcohol, a prominent yeast VOC, attracts oriental armyworm moths (Mythimna separata) to pollen-rich, yeast-fermented nectar. In a series of electrophysiological and behavioral assays, we show that isoamyl alcohol activates a single class of highly specific olfactory sensory neurons expressing the olfactory receptor MsepOR8. In the moth antennal lobe, these neurons target the AM2 glomerulus, which responds to

SUBMITTER: Ma B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11811291 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature