Alkanes in Flower Surface Waxes of Momordica cochinchinensis Influence Attraction to Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

Extraction, thin-layer chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry analyses revealed 15 alkanes representing 97.14% of the total alkanes in the surface waxes of Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng flowers. Nonacosane was the prevailing alkane followed by hexatriacontane, nonadecane, heptacosane, and hentriacontane, accounting for 39.08%, 24.24%, 13.52%, 6.32%, and 5.12%, respectively. The alkanes from flower surface waxes followed by a synthetic mixture of alkanes mimicking alkanes of flower surface waxes elicited attraction of the female insect, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) between 2 and 10-μg/mL concentrations in a Y-shaped glass tube olfactometer bioassay under laboratory conditions. Synthetic nonadecane from 178.28-891.37 ng, heptacosane from 118.14-590.72 ng, and nonacosane at 784.73 ng showed attraction of the insect. A synthetic mixture of 534.82 ng nonadecane, 354.43 ng heptacosane, and 2,354.18 ng nonacosane elicited highest attraction of A. foveicollis.

Long-chain alkanes and fatty acids fromLudwigia octovalvisweed leaf surface waxes as short-range attractant and ovipositional stimulant toAltica cyanea(Weber) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

“…leaves. Nineteen, 20 and 18 n -alkanes between n -C 15 and n -C 35 were detected in surface waxes of young, mature and senescent Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng leaves, whilst 13 free fatty acids between C12 and C20 were identified in surface waxes throughout the developmental stages of M. cochinchinensis leaves (Mukherjee et al, 2014, 2015 b ). Nonacosane ( n -C 29 ) and hexadecanoic acid were predominant n -alkanes and free fatty acids in surface waxes of F. japonica mature leaves, respectively (Li & Ishikawa, 2006).…”

“…Nonacosane ( n -C 29 ) and hexadecanoic acid were predominant n -alkanes and free fatty acids in surface waxes of F. japonica mature leaves, respectively (Li & Ishikawa, 2006). Pentatriacontane and palmitic acid were the most abundant alkane and free fatty acid in surface waxes of M. cochinchinensis leaves, respectively (Mukherjee et al, 2014, 2015 b ). However in the present investigation, tricosane was predominant alkane in young and mature L. octovalvis leaves, whilst eicosane predominated in senescent leaves; whereas heneicosanoic acid (C21:0), palmitic acid (C16:0) and docosanoic acid (C22:0) were the most abundant free fatty acids in young, mature and senescent leaves, respectively.…”

Floral volatiles with colour cues from two cucurbitaceous plants causing attraction of Aulacophora foveicollis

“…Cogn.] (Mukherjee et al., , , ). Neonate larvae feed on young and healthy roots of the plants for 12–13 days before pupating in soil.…”

“…Our previous studies revealed that A. foveicollis females were attracted by long‐chain alkanes and free fatty acids from M. cochinchinensis leaves and flowers (Mukherjee et al., , , ; Mukherjee & Barik, ), which are low volatile substances that act as close‐range attractants. Long‐range volatiles from M. cochinchinensis leaves attracting A. foveicollis have also been identified (Mukherjee et al., ).…”

The role ofLathyrus sativusflower surface wax in short-range attraction and stimulant for nymph laying by an adult viviparous aphid

“…Twenty one and 22 n -alkanes from n -C 12 to n -C 36 were detected in flower surface waxes of BIO L 212 Ratan and Nirmal B-1, respectively; while 12 free fatty acids from C12:0 to C20:0 were recorded in flower surface waxes of both cultivars. n -Alkanes and free fatty acids are widespread in flower surface waxes of plants (Mukherjee et al ., 2013; Sarkar and Barik, 2014; Karmakar and Barik, 2016; Malik and Barik, 2016). Twenty n -alkanes from n -C 15 to n -C 36 and 13 free fatty acids from C12:0 to C22:0 were detected in surface waxes of Polygonum orientale L. flowers, and octadecane and palmitoleic acid were predominant alkanes and free fatty acids, respectively (Malik and Barik, 2016).…”