Olfactory responses of Drosophila suzukii females to host plant volatiles

Abstract

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, an endemic pest in southeast Asia, has invaded Europe and the U.S.A. Unlike most of its closely related sibling species, the serrated ovipositor of D. suzukii permits ovipositing in undamaged fresh fruits. In the present study, volatiles are identified from host plants that are potentially involved in D. suzukii host recognition and oviposition behaviour. It is shown that mated females are attracted to volatiles emitted from intact fruits. The antennally‐active suite of compounds released from the fresh fruits is identified by gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection, as well as gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. In olfactometer bioassays, mated females are significantly attracted to an electroantennographically active volatile, isoamyl acetate, when tested at 10 µg of synthetic compound in a rubber septa, which has a release rate comparable to that of fresh fruits. In addition, a genomic survey shows that D. suzukii not only possesses the full repertoire of genes encoding odorant receptors activated by isoamyl acetate in D. melanogaster, but also that one of the genes, OR67a, is represented by five duplicated copies. These results indicate that D. suzukii uses olfactory cues to select oviposition sites. The identification of volatiles emitted by host fruits that attract D. suzukii may aid in the development of a selective and efficient synthetic lure for monitoring this pest. As a close relative of Drosophila melanogaster, D. suzukii provides a unique opportunity for understanding the physiological mechanisms involved in the shift of this species from use of rotten to ripe fruits for oviposition.

An invader supported by a parasite: Mistletoe berries as a host for food and reproduction of Spotted Wing Drosophila in early spring

“…Thus, these chemicals might help SWD moving through the forest canopy to locate potential host fruits. The detected compounds include volatiles typical for ripening fruits (Abraham et al 2015;Revadi et al 2015), e.g., benzaldehyde and octanal, and others considered common green leaf volatiles. The volatiles may lure the flies to pine trees parasitized by mistletoe.…”

Behavioral and Antennal Responses of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) to Volatiles From Fruit Extracts

“…orientation (e.g., Lebreton et al 2012, Faucher et al 2013) and oviposition behaviors (e.g., Stensmyr et al 2012, Linz et al 2013. Revadi et al (2012) showed recently that D. suzukii flies are attracted to odors from intact raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, and strawberry fruit, indicating that fruit volatiles are important in D. suzukii host location. Similarly, we showed that, when given a choice between fruit extracts and water, female and male D. suzukii are attracted to volatiles from blueberry, cherry, strawberry, and raspberry fruit extracts.…”

“…When performing GC-EAD studies, Revadi et al (2012) showed that D. suzukii antennae respond to several compounds emitted from intact raspberry fruit; however, these compounds were not identified. Maistri (2012) identified 16 antennally active compounds to female D. suzukii from blueberries (V. corymbosum 'Duke'): ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, cunene (isopropylbenzene), isocumene (propylbenzene), 1,8-cineole, anhydrolinalool oxide, a-terpinene, tridecane, octanal, tetradecane, trans-caryophyllene, methyl salicylate, hexanoic acid, d-3-carene, geraniol, and a-ionone but their behavioral activity was not tested.…”

“…possess many ($60) odor receptors on their antennae, which are associated with $1,300 olfactory receptor neurons that enable them to perceive and respond to many different odorants (Hallem et al 2004, Kreher et al 2008. Recently, Revadi et al (2012) showed that D. suzukii females are attracted to odors from fresh blackberry, blueberry, cherry, raspberry, and strawberry in Y-tube olfactometer assays. In coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) experiments, it was demonstrated that D. suzukii antennae respond to odors from fermentation products (Cha et al 2012) and fruit such as blueberries (Maistri 2012) and raspberries (Revadi et al 2012).…”

“…Recently, Revadi et al (2012) showed that D. suzukii females are attracted to odors from fresh blackberry, blueberry, cherry, raspberry, and strawberry in Y-tube olfactometer assays. In coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) experiments, it was demonstrated that D. suzukii antennae respond to odors from fermentation products (Cha et al 2012) and fruit such as blueberries (Maistri 2012) and raspberries (Revadi et al 2012). However, studies have yet to identify a blend of fruit volatiles attractive to D. suzukii.…”