Odors from phylogenetically-distant plants to Brassicaceae repel an herbivorous Brassica specialist.

ABSTRACT: Specialist insect herbivores are constrained by highly specific odor recognition systems to accept suitable host plants. Given that odor recognition leads specialist insects to accept a limited range of plants, we hypothesized that phylogenetically distant plants produce odors that are physicochemically different from host odors and would be less attractive or even repellent to a specialist herbivore. We tested this hypothesis by examining behavioral and ovipositional responses of swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii, Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a specialist of brassicas, to broccoli sprayed with non-host essential oils. Specifically, we asked: (1) How do essential oils from different plant species influence host-seeking and oviposition behaviors of swede midge? (2) Do odors from non-host plants

SUBMITTER: Stratton CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6650400 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature