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Identification of floral volatiles from Fagopyrum esculentum that attract Cotesia vestalis with potentially better biocontrol efficacy against Plutella xylostella.

Shijun You,Minsheng You,Dongsheng Niu

Published 2023 in Pest Management Science

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Nectar plants provide extra nourishment for parasitoids, which can utilize floral volatiles to locate nectar-rich flowers. A promising strategy is to screen potential floral species based on the wasps' olfactory preferences for nectar sources, and to ensure their suitability for both natural enemies and targeted pests. Cotesia vestalis (Haliday) is a dominant parasitoid of the oligophagous pest Plutella xylostella, which poses a significant threat to cruciferous vegetables globally. However, the chemical cues in plant-parasitoid complexes mediating C. vestalis to locate nectar food resources and the positive effect of nectar plants on the C. vestalis population are poorly understood. RESULTS The results showed that F. esculentum was the most attractive plant that attracted C. vestalis, not P. xylostella in 44 flowering plants from 19 families. 1,2-diethyl benzene and 1,4-diethyl benzene, identified from the floral volatiles from F. esculentum in full bloom, were found to elicit dose-dependent electrophysiological responses and attract C. vestalis adults, demonstrating their potential as semiochemicals. Moreover, the age-stage, two-sex life table revealed that feeding on nectar food increased the efficacy of C. vestalis adults against P. xylostella. CONCLUSION In summary, the findings provide insights into the chemical ecology of plant-parasitoid complexes and support the potential use of F. esculentum as insectary plants in habitat manipulation against P. xylostella by supplying natural nectar food for the C. vestalis population. Our results suggest a attract and reward strategy based on an attractant for C. vestalis to control P. xylostella, or the development of volatile-based artificial food for C. vestalis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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