Abstract:

 【Aim】 In the previous study, we found that both Artemisia argyi and Torilis scabra have attractive or repellent effects on insects. However, there are no reports on the effects of A. argyi and T. scabra and their volatiles on Bemisia tabaci MED adults. Therefore, this study aims to test whether A. argyi and T. scabra and their volatiles could be used for green prevention and control of B. tabaci MED adults. 【Methods】 The preference of B. tabaci MED adults to four plants including Solanum lycopersicum, A. argyi, T. scabra and Cucumis sativus and olfactory responses of B. tabaci MED adults to A. argyi and T. scabra were detected by four-arm olfactometer and Y-tube olfactometer, respectively, and the components and relative contents of volatiles in A. argyi and T. scabra leaves were identified and analyzed by GC-MS. Finally, the olfactory responses of B. tabaci MED adults to the main volatiles of A. argyi and T. scabra leaves were detected by Y-tube olfactometer. 【Results】 The numbers of B. tabaci MED adults referring to S. lycopersicum and C. sativus (22 and 21, respectively) were significantly higher than those to A. argyi and T. scabra (16 and 9, respectively). Further determination of the selectivity of B. tabaci MED adults to A. argyi and T. scabra showed that the number of B. tabaci MED adults preferring to A. argyi (60) was extremely significantly higher than that to the blank control (22), while the number of B. tabaci MED adults preferring to T. scabra (22) was extremely significantly lower than that to the blank control (55). GC-MS analysis showed that the α-copaene content in A. argyi leaves was the highest, and the cyclohexene content in T. scabra leaves was the highest. Olfactory response tests indicated that the number of B. tabaci MED adults preferring to α-copaene (1 μg/L)(60) was extremely significantly higher than that to the blank control (24), and the number of B. tabaci MED adults preferring to cyclohexene (1 μg/L)(20) was extremely significantly lower than that to the blank control (62). 【Conclusion】 The volatiles of A. argyi leaves show strong attraction to B. tabaci MED adults, and the volatiles of T. scabra leaves show strong repellency to B. tabaci MED adults. Therefore, the volatiles of A. argyi and T. scabra leaves can be used as food attractant or repellent to control B. tabaci MED adults effectively.

Key words: Bemisia tabaci, Artemisia argyi, Torilis scabra, α-copaene, cyclohexene, olfactory response