Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) to volatiles from its Host Plant, Chinese Chives (Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng)

Abstract

Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang is a serious belowground pest of Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum). Our previous studies have indicated that B. odoriphaga females prefer to oviposit near the roots of Chinese chives rather than the roots of other plants, and that the performance (longevity and fecundity) of B. odoriphaga offspring was better on Chinese chives than on Lettuce (var. ramosa Hort.), Onion (Allium cepa) and Potato (Solanum tuberosum) but little is known about how the volatiles released by Chinese chives affect the host-finding and oviposition behaviors of B. odoriphaga. Here, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and determined that Chinese chives releases the following volatiles: methyl allyl disulfide, β-myrcene, cis-ocimene, diallyl disulfide, nonane, n-dodecane, n-tetradecane, and n-hexadecane; quantities released were highest for methyl allyl disulfide and diallyl disulfide. In addition to eliciting strong responses in females in electroantennography assays, the latter two sulfur compounds and their mixtures attracted females in Y-tube olfactometer assays. The addition of methyl allyl disulfide, diallyl disulfide, or a mixture of the two compounds at a 1:5 ratio to chive plants increased oviposition when compared to control plants. These results indicate that methyl allyl disulfide and diallyl disulfide, either alone or in combination, influence the host-seeking behavior of B. odoriphaga.

The olfactory responses of mirid bugs to six plant extracts and their volatiles

“…lucorum ; Bradysia odoriphaga produced strong electrophysiological and behavioural responses to some disulphides (Yang et al, 2019 In this study, both A. suturalis and A. lucorum showed olfactory preference to this mixed attractant suggesting the similarity of olfactory response between the two species of mirid bugs (Wang et al, 2018).…”

“…Previous studies have reported that insects showed same response to the compounds with similar structures. For example, many butyl esters play an important role in host localization of A. lucorum (Pan, et al., 2015); Bradysia odoriphaga produced strong electrophysiological and behavioural responses to some disulphides (Yang et al., 2019). In the volatiles of Chaenomeles speciosa and Jinmudan Oolong tea which were important host plants of A. lucorum , many kinds of phthalate esters were identified (Wang and Kang, 2010; Xu et al, 2013).…”

Allium tuberosum aqueous extract had curative effects on malignant melanoma in C57BL/6 mice

“…AT antitumor activity could depend on substances found in Allium genus, just like organosulfur compounds: methyl allyl disulfide and diallyl disulfide [20]. These organosulfur molecules have immune stimulant effects, which could be responsible of anticancer effects of these molecules.…”

Function and Characterization Analysis of BodoOBP8 from Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) in the Recognition of Plant Volatiles and Sex Pheromones

“…Additionally, the insect pheromones 4-methyl-3,5-heptanedione and (E8, E10)-dodecadienol have been used as attractants for Sitona lineatus [11] and Cydia pomonella [15]. In our previous study, we have shown that the volatiles methyl allyl disulfide and diallyl disulfide, emitted from Chinese chives, could regulate host location and oviposition behavior in B. odoriphaga adults [16]. In another study, the sex pheromone nheptadecane could regulate the behavior of B. odoriphaga male adults [17].…”