Components and composition of active volatiles attract on Diorhabda tarsalis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Rosales: Leguminoseae)

Abstract

IntroductionPerennial Chinese licorice, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, is an important medicinal plant. Diorhabda tarsalis, a leaf beetle, is a serious insect pest on the plant and cause serious yield losses every year and is attracted to healthy and pest-damaged licorice by plant volatiles.AimThe biologically active components of the volatiles released from G. uralensis have not been reported; the components of the volatiles that attract D. tarsalis need to be identified. Such compounds could potentially be used for monitoring and mass-trapping pests.MethodsGC-EAD, GC-MS, EAG, Y-shaped olfactometer behavioral bioassays, and field trials were performed to identify the components and composition of active volatiles.ResultsMale and virgin female adults were generally attracted to volatiles from licorice, and volatiles from pest-infested plants were more attractive. Four compounds from licorice elicited a significant electrophysiological response (EAD) and were confirmed by EAG, including hexanal, (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, and (E)-2-hexenal. With the exception of the (E)-2-hexenal, these molecules significantly attracted adults in individual behavioral bioassays, and a proportional mixture corresponding to beetle-damaged licorice of hexanal, (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, and (E)-2-hexenal (8.78:15.26:57.24:18.72) was most effective for attracting D. tarsalis in the field, attracted a mean of 26 ± 7.19 beetles per trap.DiscussionD. tarsalis was attracted to volatiles from healthy and herbivore-induced G. uralensis under both laboratory and field conditions. The aforementioned compounds show considerable potential for commercial application to monitor and control D. tarsalis populations.

Design and optimization of heat pump with infrared drying for Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Licorice) processing

“…In China, licorice also is a important Chinese herbal medicine ( 1 ), including both wild and artificially cultivated varieties. While wild licorice is predominantly found in Xinjiang, Gansu, and other regions, artificially cultivated licorice is primarily concentrated in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and various parts of China ( 2 ). The key active components of licorice include flavonoids, sugars, and ascorbic acid, which have various pharmacological effects such as anti-oxidation, anti-virus, and immune regulation ( 3 ).…”