Herbivore-Induced Specificity and Diversity in Piper arboreum Volatiles.

ABSTRACT: The essential oils obtained by steam distillation of leaves of Piper species have found several applications in bioeconomy due to their various biological properties. Nevertheless, the analysis of essential oils does not provide information regarding the ecologically relevant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by metabolically active leaves under real-world conditions, challenged or not by herbivore damage. In this study, P. arboreum growing in a highly diverse area was observed as the host of two generalist caterpillars-Gonodonta maria (Erebidae) and Dysodia spissicornis (Thyrididae)-and one Piper-specialist from the genus Eois (Geometridae). The effect of the leaf attack caused by the three different caterpillars on VOCs emission indicated

SUBMITTER: Stanton MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12845114 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature