Nonanal modulates oviposition preference in female Helicoverpa assulta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) via the activation of peripheral neurons.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The insect olfactory system can recognize odorants for feeding, courtship, oviposition and avoiding natural enemies. Odorant cues from host plants play important roles in insect behaviours. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is the main cultivated host of the oriental tobacco budworm Helicoverpa assult. Volatiles of tobacco plants attract and stimulate oviposition in female moths. However, it is still not known how female H. assulta recognize tobacco volatiles and which odorant compounds are used as oviposition cues.

Results

We detected 14 volatile compounds emitted from a tobacco plant during vegetative growth, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Electroantennogram tests indicated that eight of the 14 compounds induced responses in female H. assulta. Among these

SUBMITTER: Wang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7496960 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature