Importance of plant physical cues in host acceptance for oviposition by <i>Busseola fusca</i>

Calatayud, Paul‐André; Ahuya, Peter; Wanjoya, Anthony; Rü, B. Le; Silvain, Jean‐François; Frérot, Brigitte

doi:10.1111/j.1570-7458.2007.00660.x

Cited by 32 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In addition, the microstructure of this layer may affect oviposition behavior. It has been suggested that the presence of wax films, crystals, or pubescence may impede or deter egg laying (Calatayud et al 2008;Scott Brown and Simmonds 2006). N e m a t u s o l i g o s p i l u s F ö r s t e r ( H y m e n o p t e r a : Tenthredinidae) is an external leaf feeder that develops exclusively on species of Salix L. (Salicaceae) and has been reported worldwide (Charles and Allan 2000;Dapoto and Giganti 1994;Smith 2003;Urban and Eardley 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Both Volatiles and Cuticular Plant Compounds Determine Oviposition of the Willow Sawfly Nematus oligospilus on Leaves of Salix spp. (Salicaceae)

Braccini¹,

Vega

Aráoz

et al. 2015

J Chem Ecol

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Plant volatile organic compounds play a role in selection of host plants by herbivorous insects. Once the insect reaches the plant, contact cues determine host acceptance. Although the willow sawfly Nematus oligospilus (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) can differentiate among willow genotypes, no knowledge is available on the cues used by this insect to seek and accept the host plant. In this study, we recorded behavioral orientation in a Y-tube olfactometer of willow sawfly females to volatiles of the highly preferred genotype Salix nigra and the non-preferred genotype S. viminalis. The volatiles released by undamaged willows of each genotype were analyzed by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Contact cues were evaluated first by oviposition preference bioassays after selective leaf wax removal, and then by studying the micromorphology of abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces and their chemical composition. Willow sawfly females oriented preferentially to S. nigra volatiles, which contained more than 3 times the amount of volatiles than that collected from S. viminalis. Analysis of volatiles showed significant differences in amounts of (Z) and (E)-β-ocimene, undecane, decanal, and β-caryophyllene. The adaxial leaf surface of S. nigra was less preferred after wax removal, suggesting a role of cuticular waxes for oviposition acceptance. No differences were found among the micromorphology of leaf surfaces between preferred and non-preferred genotypes. The chemical analysis of cuticular waxes showed that the abaxial leaf surface of S. viminalis, which is completely avoided for oviposition, possessed 97% of alkanes. The accepted leaf surfaces contained a more diverse wax profile including alcohols, acids, and esters. Thus, non-alkane wax compounds might be related to oviposition. In sum, our study suggests that several cues act in concert to provide oviposition cues for the sawfly N. oligospilus: females are attracted to volatiles from a distance, and once alighting on the plant, they seek specific chemical contact cues in order to lay eggs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Both Volatiles and Cuticular Plant Compounds Determine Oviposition of the Willow Sawfly Nematus oligospilus on Leaves of Salix spp. (Salicaceae)

Braccini¹,

Vega

Aráoz

et al. 2015

J Chem Ecol

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“…It has also been observed in S. nonagrioides (Robert & Frérot, 1998) and M. brassicae (Rojas et al., 2000), which have ovipositors similar in morphology to B. fusca . It has been clearly demonstrated for B. fusca that this behaviour is significantly affected by plant pubescence (Calatayud et al., 2008). Napier grass was the only pubescent host used in this study, explaining in part why this plant was less preferred for oviposition than maize and sorghum.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flight and oviposition behaviour of the African stem borer, Busseola fusca, on various host plant species

Calatayud

Guénego²,

Ahuya

et al. 2008

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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The African stem borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important pest of maize and sorghum in sub‐Saharan Africa. As in many other lepidopteran insects, the ability of B. fusca to recognize and colonize a variety of plants is based on the interaction between its sensory systems and the physical and chemical characteristics of its immediate environment. In this study, we tried to identify the behavioural steps of B. fusca leading to host selection and oviposition. Three Poaceae species commonly cultivated in Kenya for human consumption and animal forage were used in this study: the two most preferred hosts, maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and one non‐preferred host, Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach). Wind tunnel observations revealed that volatiles produced by the different plant species did not appear to strongly influence the general orientation of B. fusca towards the plant, as similar behavioural steps were exhibited by the female moth regardless of the plant species involved. This indicated that the females were not able to recognize their preferred hosts from a distance. After landing, the female typically swept her ovipositor on the plant surface, simultaneously touching it with the tips of her antennae, and then oviposited. This behaviour was more frequently observed on maize and sorghum than on Napier grass, and indicated that both antennal and ovipositor receptors are used by the female moths to evaluate the plant surface before deciding to oviposit. As a result, the females laid more eggs on the two crops than on Napier grass. We conclude therefore that females recognized their preferred hosts only after landing. Tactile and contact‐chemoreception stimuli from the plants seemed to play a major role in oviposition decisions of B. fusca.

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“…), indicating that females during this probing detect and assess plant chemicals (Calatayud et al . ). Thus, the ovipositor sensilla can play an important role in detecting plant metabolites in the wax layer or compounds known to leach onto the surface of the leaf and which indicate plant quality at the oviposition site (Derridj et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Morphology and distribution of ovipositor sensilla of female cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and evidence for gustatory function

Seada

Anderson

2016

Entomological Science

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The ovipositor of Spodoptera littoralis has many sensilla, which implies a distinct sensory function of this organ in the assessment of the egg laying substrates and placement of eggs. The ovipositor is composed of two papillae densely packed with sensilla. Scanning electron microscopy showed that there are four categories of sensilla chaetica (s. chaetica), characterized based on differences in distribution, length and morphology, distributed on each papilla: Type I with 69 ± 2.9 sensilla on each papilla (length: 29–163 μm) distributed at the base; Type II with 19 ± 1.8 sensilla (length: 287–446 μm) distributed medially; Type III with 120 ± 7.8 sensilla (length: 62–156 μm) distributed distally; and Type IV 8 ± 0.9 sensilla (length: 72–91 μm) scattered between Type III sensilla. The structure of s. chaetica Types I–III suggests a mechanosensory function, whereas electrophysiological analysis of s. chaetica Type IV showed responses from four gustatory neurons and one mechanosensory neuron. Of the chemoreceptive neurons, one responded to salt, one to the secondary compound caffeine, one to sugars, mainly sucrose and fructose, and lastly one potentially to water. Behavioral studies are needed to verify the role of these sensilla during choice of oviposition site.

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Importance of plant physical cues in host acceptance for oviposition by Busseola fusca

Cited by 32 publications

References 31 publications

Both Volatiles and Cuticular Plant Compounds Determine Oviposition of the Willow Sawfly Nematus oligospilus on Leaves of Salix spp. (Salicaceae)

Both Volatiles and Cuticular Plant Compounds Determine Oviposition of the Willow Sawfly Nematus oligospilus on Leaves of Salix spp. (Salicaceae)

Flight and oviposition behaviour of the African stem borer, Busseola fusca, on various host plant species

Morphology and distribution of ovipositor sensilla of female cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and evidence for gustatory function

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