Male aggregation pheromone of date palm fruit stalk borer Oryctes elegans

Laboratory and field investigations were carried out to characterize the chemical communication system of the date palm fruit stalk borer, Oryctes elegans, and to develop pheromonc-based trapping in Eastern Iran. Adults of both sexes feeding on date palm pieces attracted conspecifics, whereas date palm alone was minimally attractive. Mates were twice as attractive as females. More beetles were captured at the palm crown than at ground level. Odors from adults feeding on sugarcane were sampled and analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Whereas females did not emit sex specific volatiles, males emitted a blend of 4-methyloctanoic acid (1: major component) and ethyl 4-methyloctanoate (2), occasionally mixed with minor components: 4-methyloctanyl acetate (3), methyl 4-methyloctanoate (4), 4-methyloctanol (5), and nonanyl acetate (6). Electroantennography and field trapping experiments demonstrated that compound 1 is an essential component of the male aggregation pheromone of O. elegans. It was barely attractive by itself but synergistic with fresh date palm odor. It attracted many more beetles than any of compounds 2-6. The addition of one or several of compounds 2-6 to 1 did not improve trap captures. During the course of 2 years, we captured 4000 beetles, with a weekly average of 6.3 beetles/trap, and were able to monitor the seasonal flight of O. elegans. Our results provide the basis for developing mass trapping for control of this pest.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Rochat, Didier, Mohammadpoor, Kazem, Malosse, Christian, Avand-Faghih, Arman, Lettere, Martine, Beauhaire, Josiane, Morin, Jean-Paul, Pezier, Adeline, Renou, Michel, Gholam Abbas Abdollahi
Format:	article biblioteca
Language:	eng
Subjects:	H10 - Ravageurs des plantes, Phoenix dactylifera, insecte déprédateur des tiges, Oryctes, phéromone sexuelle, lutte antiravageur, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5791, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7389, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5434, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_34336, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5726,
Online Access:	http://agritrop.cirad.fr/519586/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/519586/1/519586.pdf
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