Hostname: page-component-74656f9884-8r8nv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-07T05:22:42.035Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Kairomones from Euschistus heros egg masses and their potential use for Telenomus podisi parasitism improvement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 May 2020

R. Tognon*
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Protection, PPG-Fitotecnia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 7712, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
J. Sant'Ana
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Protection, PPG-Fitotecnia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 7712, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
M. F. F. Michereff
Affiliation:
Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Laboratory (EMBRAPA/Cenargen), 70849-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil
R. A. Laumann
Affiliation:
Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Laboratory (EMBRAPA/Cenargen), 70849-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil
M. Borges
Affiliation:
Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Laboratory (EMBRAPA/Cenargen), 70849-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil
M. C. Blassioli-Moraes
Affiliation:
Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Laboratory (EMBRAPA/Cenargen), 70849-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil
L. R. Redaelli
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Protection, PPG-Fitotecnia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 7712, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: R. Tognon, Email: roberta.tognon@ufrgs.br
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is the most important egg parasitoid of Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and its successful parasitism is related to their searching ability to find suitable hosts under a complex chemical environment using host-reliable cues. Thus, the objective of this study was to elucidate chemical substances on the external layer of E. heros eggs and report its potential kairomonal activity on T. podisi. We tested female wasps in olfactometer system to synthetic compounds obtained from a chemical identification of E. heros egg masses. The synthetic blend was also evaluated in parasitism tests under laboratory and semi-field conditions. We identified 31 substances from egg surface extracts, including monoterpenes, aldehydes and alkanes. Among those compounds, a synthetic solution including camphene, β-pinene, limonene and benzaldehyde-induced chemotaxic behaviour on the wasps and increased the parasitism on E. heros eggs, either in laboratory or semi-field test, suggesting its potential use to T. podisi manipulation and parasitism improvement.

Information

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press
Figure 0

Table 1. Mean (ng/egg mass) ± (SE) of compounds extracted from 1 g of Euschistus heros and retention index (RI) of compounds/chemical group identified on E. heros eggs

Figure 1

Figure 1. Response of Telenomus podisi (±SE) tested in olfactometer dual choice to the following mixtures vs. hexane: MA: limonene, camphene, benzaldehyde, β-myrcene, β-pinene and α-pinene; MB: limonene, camphene, benzaldehyde, β-myrcene and β-pinene; MC: camphene, benzaldehyde, β-myrcene and β-pinene; MD: limonene, benzaldehyde, β-myrcene and β-pinene; ME: limonene, camphene, β-myrcene and β-pinene; MF: limonene, camphene, benzaldehyde and β-myrcene; MG: limonene, camphene, benzaldehyde and β-pinene; MH: camphene, benzaldehyde and β-pinene; MI: limonene, benzaldehyde and β-pinene; MJ: limonene, camphene and β-pinene; MK: limonene, camphene and benzaldehyde. Numbers represent the number of responsive insects. Bars followed by different letters within each treatment indicate difference (χ2, P < 0.05).

Figure 2

Table 2. Parasitism of Euschistus heros eggs with synthetic mixture G (MG) or hexane (H) under laboratory or semi-field condition by Telenomus podisi