Monitoring the Methyl Eugenol Response and Non-Responsiveness Mechanisms in Oriental Fruit Fly Bactrocera dorsalis in China

Abstract

Bactrocera dorsalis is a notorious polyphagous pest in China, and its management strategies largely depend on methyl eugenol (ME), which has been widely used as an attractant to monitor and eradicate B. dorsalis populations for seven decades. However, the non-responsiveness levels in field B. dorsalis populations to ME is unknown. In this study, we monitored the response to ME in field populations from the four most heavily infested provinces in China, and the results showed that the populations had lower sensitivity to ME relative to GZS susceptible strain. The percent responsiveness of the lowest sensitivity population was 5.88-, 3.47-, and 1.47-fold lower relative to the susceptible strain at doses of 1, 10, and 100 µL of ME, respectively. Gene expression analysis and inhibitor assays further revealed that odorant binding protein (BdorOBP2, BdorOBP83b) and the P450 enzyme system may be associated with the lower response to ME. To our knowledge, this work is the first to report that the P450 enzyme system confers a lower responsiveness to lure insects. These findings provided valuable insights for exploiting ME non-responsiveness to protect sterile males from ME-based control strategies and the use of lures combined with insecticides.

Assessment of non-methyl eugenol-responding lines of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) males on lure response and mating

“…Reduction in male flies’ attraction to ME was achieved by gene silencing (Liu et al ., 2017; Chen et al ., 2021). However, the molecular basis of non-ME-responsiveness is still not understood as higher expressions of those genes were recorded instead in those non-ME-responsive males (Fan et al ., 2022).…”

Antenna-Biased Odorant Receptor PstrOR17 Mediates Attraction of Phyllotreta striolata to (S)-Cis-Verbenol and (−)-Verbenone

“…In recent years, several plant-derived attractants or repellents targeting insect sensitive olfactory systems have demonstrated excellent practical implications in plant protection as alternatives to pesticides. For example, methyl eugenol is widely used as a commercial attractant for Bactrocera dorsalis [39]. Furthermore, synthetic pheromones disrupt mating, providing another efficient method for pest management which has been successfully used in numerous moth species [40].…”

Olfactory receptors in Bactrocera species for sustainable fruit fly management: A review and future perspectives

“…ME is used in the attract‐and‐kill method against fruit flies, which helps in reducing the invasions rate and fruit damage in agriculture. However, overemployment of ME in fruit fly management can lead to resistance and reduced effectiveness, which is highlighting the current need for sustainable alternatives (Fan et al, 2022; Mandanayake et al, 2023; Tan et al, 2002).…”