Electrophysiological Studies and Identification of Possible Sex Pheromone Components of Brazilian Populations of the Sugarcane Borer, Diatraea saccharalis

Abstract

Virgin female gland extracts of sugarcane moth Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), from three locations in Brazil, have been analyzed. By GC-MS analysis and comparison of the chromatographic retention time of the components of the pheromone gland with those retention times of synthetic standards, we observed the presence of (Z)- hexadec-11-enal (1), hexadecanal (2), (9E,11Z)-hexadecadienal (4), (9Z,11Z)-hexadecadienal (5) and (9E,11E)-hexadecadienal (6), as minor components besides the major constituent (9Z,11E)-hexadecadienal (3) already reported. We found no variations in the composition of the gland extracts deriving from the three Brazilian populations and only two compounds, (Z)-hexadec-11-enal (1) and (9Z,11E)-hexadecadienal (3), elicited antennal responses (GCEAD). In electroantennography (EAG), however, pure compounds 1 and 3, a binary mixture containing 1 and 3, and a mixture containing all of the six synthetic compounds 1-6 elicited a depolarization in male antennae of D. saccharalis, without any statistically different delay. The EAG responses to the other isomers of 9,11-hexadecadienal were small and not significantly different from the control, except for the (9Z,11Z)-isomer (5) which showed an relatively strong electroantennal activity.

Electrophysiological responses of eucalyptus brown looper Thyrinteina arnobia to essential oils of seven Eucalyptus species

“…With this technique it was possible to identify twenty-eight compounds in the E. grandis oil that elicited responses in T. arnobia female antennae as well as in male antennae. Considerable effort was made to identify all stimulatory compounds among the volatile fractions eluted from the eucalyptus oil ( Figure 3); however, only twenty could be identified: α-pinene (1), β-pinene (2), α-phellandrene (3), p-cymene (4), limonene (5), 1,8-cineole (6), γ-terpinene (7), para-mentha-2,4,(8)-diene (9), linalool (11), α-campholenol (12), terpin-4-ol (13), α-terpineol (14),β-caryophyllene (15), aromadendrene (16), bicyclogermacrene (21), (E,E)-α-farnesene (22), flavesone (25), spathulenol (26), nerolidol (27) and leptospermone (28). In the chromatogram (Figure 3), compounds 4, 5 and 6 coeluted, but elicited three electrophysiological responses (peaks).…”

“…7,[13][14][15] Antennae of 1-2 day old male and female moths were used for electroantennographic experiments (EAG) and electroantennographic detection (EAD). 16 Each antenna was pulled from the head with forceps and a few segments were cut off at the base and the tip. 17 The antenna was 557 Electrophysiological Responses of Eucalyptus Brown Vol.…”

“…The numbers indicate the peaks that elicited electrophysiological responses: α-pinene (1), β-pinene (2), α-phellandrene (3), p-cymene (4), limonene (5), 1,8-cineole (6), γ-terpinene (7), p-mentha-2,4,(8)-diene (9), linalool (11), α-campholenol (12), terpin-4-ol (13), α-terpineol (14), β-caryophyllene (15), aromadendrene (16), bicyclogermacrene (21), (E,E)-α-farnesene (22), flavesone (25), spathulenol (26), nerolidol (27) and leptospermone (28). (N = 5).…”

Toward the Identification of the Sex Pheromone of Diatraea indigenella Dyar & Heinrich (Lepidoptera: Crambidae): Calling Behavior and Chemical Structure of a Major Component

“…Similar results are reported in the literature (Cabrera et al 2001, Yang et al 2002, 2007, Kawazu et al 2007, Yu-yong et al 2009. The component (Z,E)-9,11-hexadecadienal is also the major sex pheromone component from the phylogenetically related specie Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Svatoš et al 2001, Palacio Cortés et al 2010, but the attractiveness of this compound is lower than that of caged virgin females in field experiments (Hammond & Hensley 1971, Perez & Hensley 1973, Batista-Pereira et al 2002, Kalinová et al 2005.…”

(11Z)‐hexadec‐11‐enal enhances the attractiveness of Diatraea saccharalis main pheromone component in wind tunnel experiments

“…The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lep., Pyralidae), is an important pest of maize and sorghum crops and the key pest of sugarcane in the Americas ( Cueva et al., 1980; Gallo , 1980; Macedo et al., 1993). (9 Z ,11 E )‐Hexadeca‐9,11‐dienal (9 Z ,11 E ‐16:Al) has been repeatedly identified as the main pheromone component in female pheromone glands ( Carney and Liu , 1982; Svatoš et al., 2001; Batista‐Pereira et al., 2002; Santagelo et al., 2002). However, field tests revealed a low attractiveness of 9 Z ,11 E ‐16:Al in comparison with caged virgin females ( Patrick and Hensley , 1970; Hammond and Hensley , 1971; Perez and Hensley , 1973; Botelho et al., 1976, 1978; Almeida et al., 1983).…”