Aphid semiochemicals ? A review, and recent advances on the sex pheromone

Abstract

The alarm pheromones are known for many species of aphids, and methods of using the synthetic pheromone to improve control of aphids by contact insecticides and biological agents have been devised. Highly active analogs have been prepared and plant-derived synergists identified. Laboratory studies on compounds obtained by chemical modification of the alarm pheromone and antifeedants derived from non-host plants have led to successful field trials against aphid-borne virus diseases in crops. Strategies for biotechnological production of aphid semiochemicals are described. The sex pheromones for a number of aphids have recently been identified. Further studies on the production, perception, and interspecific attraction of the pheromone components are described and possible uses for the sex pheromone are discussed.

Defence mechanisms of Brassicaceae: implications for plant-insect interactions and potential for integrated pest management. A review

“…Aphids have been considered as the main insect pests in India and northern European agriculture, and are also important pests in horticulture both in field and greenhouse production, causing damage to crops either directly by feeding or by transmitting plant viral diseases (Dawson et al, 1990;Sekhon, 1999). Aphids feed by piercing plant tissue with their needlelike mouthparts (stylets), sucking water and nutrients from the phloem vascular system of the plant.…”

“…Chemicals that influence aphid behaviour have been studied for many decades, but a major breakthrough occurred in the early 1970s, due to chemical identification of an alarm pheromone for a number of species by several groups (as reviewed by Dawson et al, 1990). This pheromone was shown to comprise the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (E, E)-α-farnesene.…”

“…Electrophysiological recordings together with high-resolution gas chromatography identified metabolites of glucosinolate precursors in the cruciferous host plants as being synergists for the alarm pheromone of L. erysimi. The most active, allyl isothiocyanate, significantly improved the activity of an aqueous formulation of (E,E) − α-farnesene (Dawson et al, 1990). The volatile (Z)-jasmone was shown to repel aphids while being an attractant to parasitoids (Birkett et al, 2000).…”

Fast gas chromatography characterisation of purified semiochemicals from essential oils of Matricaria chamomilla L. (Asteraceae) and Nepeta cataria L. (Lamiaceae)

“…E-β-Farnesene (EBF) and (Z,E)-nepetalactone are respectively, the alarm and the sexual pheromones of many aphids species [5][6][7]. Moreover, β-caryophyllene is a molecule of interest having biological activity against aphid reproduction [2] and was identified as the aggregation pheromone of the Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis [8].…”

Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) of Brassicaceae and their role in plant defense against insect herbivores – A review

“…Electrophysiological studies together with high resolution gas chromatography identified metabolites of glucosinolates in crucifer plants being synergists for alarm pheromone of L. erysimi. The most active, allyl isothiocyanate, significantly improved the activity of an aqueous formulation of ά-farnesene (Dawson et al, 1990). The volatile z-jasmone was shown to repel aphids, while being an attractant to parasitoids (Birkett et al, 2000).…”