Abstract:  【Aim】 To explore the chemical communication mechanism between the Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis and host plants by identifying the components of volatiles from host plants used by female adults of this insect in searching for oviposition sites. 【Methods】 The oviposition preference of O. furnacalis to host plants including Polygonum lapathifolium, Abutilon theophrasti, Humulus scandens, Zea mays and Echinochloa crusgalli was screened, respectively, in field oviposition test and indoor wind tunnel behavioral test. Headspace volatiles of host plants were collected, and the components and contents of physiologically-active volatiles were identified by using two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). The electroantennogram responses of O. furnacalis to the chemical components of the extract were tested by using coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). 【Results】 The field oviposition test results showed that the number of eggs laid by female adults of O. furnacalis on different plants ranked as Z. mays>P. lapathifolium>H. scandens>E. crusgalli>A. theophrasti. In the wind tunnel bioassay, the adults showed an obvious oviposition preference to H. scandens. The GC×GC-TOFMS results showed that there were 45 volatile organic compounds from H. scandens, and the relative content of terpenoids was as high as 86.29% and that of aldehydes, ketones and esters in total was only 15.83%. Nine plant volatiles, i.e., linalool, α-caryophyllene, benzaldehyde, sabinene, myrcene, 2-pentylfuran, nonanal, α-farnesene, and trans-β-ocimene, caused significant GC-EAG reaction in female adults. 【Conclusion】 There are significant differences in oviposition preference of female adults of O. furnacalis to different hosts. The physical and chemical factors of host plants are the main factors affecting the host selection. O. furnacalis shows strong preference to the volatiles of H. scandens. Nine volatiles from H. scandens, including linalool, α-caryophyllene, benzaldehyde, sabinene, myrcene, 2-pentylfuran, nonanal, α-farnesene, and trans-β-ocimenemay, play important roles in oviposition host selection for the Asian corn borer.

Key words: Ostrinia furnacalis, volatile components, GC-EAD, GC×GC-TOFMS, wind tunnel