Repellence of Myzus persicae (Sulzer): evidence of two modes of action of volatiles from selected living aromatic plants

Abstract

BACKGROUND Intercropping companion plants (CPs) with horticultural crops could be an eco‐friendly strategy to optimize pest management. In this research, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by some CPs were investigated for their repellent properties towards the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer). The aim of this study was to understand the modes of action involved: direct effects on the aphid and/or indirect effects via the host plant (pepper, Capsicum annuum L.). RESULTS We identified two promising repellent CP species: the volatile blend from basil (Ocimum basilicum, direct repellent effect) and the mixture of (or previously intercropped) C. annuum plants with Tagetes patula cv. Nana (indirect effect). This effect was cultivar‐dependent and linked to the volatile bouquet. For the 16 compounds present in the O. basilicum or T. patula bouquets tested individually, (E)‐β‐farnesene, and eugenol reported good repellent properties against M. persicae. Other compounds were repellent at medium and/or highest concentrations. Thus, the presence of repellent VOCs in a mixture does not mean that it has a repellent propriety. CONCLUSION We identified two promising repellent CP species towards M. persicae, with a likely effect of one CP's VOCs on the host plant repellency and highlighted the specific effectiveness of VOC blends. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Primary screening and application of repellent plant volatiles to control tea leafhopper, Empoasca onukii Matsuda

“…Consequently, to suppress leafhopper populations, the repellent should be combined with other pest management tactics, for example, with an attractive ingredient to build a push–pull system. This system is an effective means of pest behavioural manipulation and has been used successfully to manage several insect pests . A typical example is the combination of a neem seed extract spray (repellent) with an attractive trap crop to protect cotton crops from Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) in Australia .…”

“…products have been formulated commercially for pest management . The odours from some aromatic plants also have repellent effects on insect herbivores . Therefore, such plants are an important source of repellent semiochemicals for pest control.…”

“…17 The odours from some aromatic plants also have repellent effects on insect herbivores. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Therefore, such plants are an important source of repellent semiochemicals for pest control. Our previous studies have shown that volatile organic compounds or essential oils from aromatic plants, such as Lavandula pinnata, Rosmarinus officinalis and Corymbia citriodora, can repel E. onukii and mask the host's odour, and that intercropping of L. pinnata and C. citriodora with tea plants can significantly reduce the size of the E. onukii population in tea plantations.…”

The Effect of Mechanical Stress on Plant Susceptibility to Pests: A Mini Opinion Review

“…The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) has been shown to play a role in plant-insect interactions (see [4] for a review). Some VOC emitted by companion plants are effective for reducing aphid attractivity in pepper [54,55]. However, VOC emitted by the crop itself if mechanically stimulated can also be effective.…”

Early Olfactory Environment Influences Antennal Sensitivity and Choice of the Host-Plant Complex in a Parasitoid Wasp

“…All studies revealing hostfidelity have been performed with insects developing on uniform simple HPCs, although in a natural environment, different hosts and their associated plants, emitting various volatile blends, might be present in close vicinity. Whereas several studies indicate that pest insects are less efficient in localizing their host plants in a complex olfactory environment, especially if repellent plants are associated with suitable host plants [18,19], it is still debated if this complex olfactory environment also affects natural enemies such as parasitoids [20,21]. An influence of surrounding plant volatiles on host choice has been indicated in Aphidius rhopalosiphi females: They seem not only to learn the odor of the HPC they emerge from ( Metopolophium dirhodum on wheat), but also the combination of HPC volatiles with volatiles of plants present in the vicinity (tomato) [22].…”