›› 2010, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (12): 1390-1403.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Semiochemicals used in chemical communication in the oriental fruit moth, Grapholitha molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

LU Peng-Fei, HUANG Ling-Qiao, WANG Chen-Zhu   

  • Online:2011-01-28 Published:2010-12-20
  • Contact: WANG Chen-Zhu

Abstract:

The oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholitha molesta Busck, is an important pest of stone fruits in North China. Semiochemicals play a crucial role in hostplant selection and mate location of this pest, and thus manipulating insect behaviour through the application of semiochemicals in the environment has become a practical method in OFM management. This article reviews the research progress on OFM attractants, including female and male sex pheromones, pheromone-based mating disruption techniques, and host plant volatiles and their use in pest attraction. The sex pheromone components included (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate, (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-8-dodecenol and dodecanol. The geographic variation was found in ratio of components. In the laboratory bioassay, the two acetate esters were essential to attractiveness, and (Z)-8-dodecenol had synergistic effects. In the field tests, the three-component blend was also attractive. Mating disruption of G. molesta was successfully carried out by using hand-applied pheromone dispensers, wax drops and sprayable microencapsulated pheromone. Twenty-two compounds were identified in peach shoots. Green leaf volatiles accounted for more than 50% of the total emitted volatiles. A bioassay indicated the compounds with a chain length of 6-8 carbon atoms were bio-active. The 5-compound mixture, (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, benzaldehyde and benzonitrile, was as attractive as natural peach shoots volatiles. Benzylnitrile accounted for 0.14% of the total emitted volatiles of peach shoots, but it played a key role in successful recognition and behavioral discrimination of suitable host plants. Further investigations on semiochemicals in G. molesta are discussed.

Key words: Oriental fruit moth, semiochemical, sex pheromone, host plant volatiles, mating disruption, pest control