Impact of Botanical Pesticides Derived from Melia azedarach and Azadirachta indica Plants on the Emission of Volatiles that Attract Parasitoids of the Diamondback Moth to Cabbage Plants

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 325 - 349
• Main Authors: Charleston, D.S, Gols, R, Hordijk, K.A, Kfir, R, Vet, L.E.M, Dicke, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01.02.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aldehydes; Animals; Arthropoda; Azadirachta - chemistry; Azadirachta indica; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; botanical insecticides; Botany; Brassica; Brassica - metabolism; Brassica - parasitology; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; Butterflies & moths; cabbage; cabbage volatiles; Control; Cotesia plutellae; Diadromus; Diadromus collaris; elicitors; Emissions; Esters; Feeding Behavior - drug effects; Female; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycerides - pharmacology; host plant attraction; host seeking; Host-Parasite Interactions; Hymenoptera - physiology; induced plant volatiles; Insect Control; Insecticides - pharmacology; kairomones; Larva - parasitology; Larva - physiology; Melia azedarach; Melia azedarach - chemistry; Moths - parasitology; Moths - physiology; neem extracts; parasitoid behavior; parasitoids; Parasitology; Pesticides; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plutella; Plutella xylostella; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Syringa; syringa extract; Terpenes - pharmacology; volatile compounds; Wind tunnels; Attractant; induced plant volatiles; Insecta; Biological control; elicitor; Emission; Botanical insecticide; Pesticide crop; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; Medicinal plant; Plutellidae; Plutella xylostella; Pest; Entomophagous; Cruciferae; Beneficial animal; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Hardwood forest tree; Biopesticide; Azadirachta indica; Volatile compound; Induction; parasitoid behavior; Plutella xyloslella; Broadleaved ornamental tree; Meliaceae; Parasitoid; Vegetable crop; Arthropoda; Lepidoptera; Spermatophyta; Invertebrata; Botanical pesticides
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1007/s10886-005-9004-9

Herbivorous and carnivorous arthropods use chemical information from plants during foraging. Aqueous leaf extracts from the syringa tree Melia azedarach and commercial formulations from the neem tree Azadirachta indica, Neemix 4.5, were investigated for their impact on the flight response of two parasitoids, Cotesia plutellae and Diadromus collaris. Cotesia plutellae was attracted only to Plutella xylostella-infested cabbage plants in a wind tunnel after an oviposition experience. Female C. plutellae did not distinguish between P. xylostella-infested cabbage plants treated with neem and control P. xylostella-infested plants. However, females preferred infested cabbage plants that had been treated with syringa extract to control infested plants. Syringa extract on filter paper did not attract C. plutellae. This suggests that an interaction between the plant and the syringa extract enhances parasitoid attraction. Diadromus collaris was not attracted to cabbage plants in a wind tunnel and did not distinguish between caterpillar-damaged and undamaged cabbage plants. Headspace analysis revealed 49 compounds in both control cabbage plants and cabbage plants that had been treated with the syringa extract. Among these are alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, terpenoids, sulfides, and an isothiocyanate. Cabbage plants that had been treated with the syringa extract emitted larger quantities of volatiles, and these increased quantities were not derived from the syringa extract. Therefore, the syringa extract seemed to induce the emission of cabbage volatiles. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a plant extract inducing the emission of plant volatiles in another plant. This interesting phenomenon likely explains the preference of C. plutellae parasitoids for cabbage plants that have been treated with syringa extracts.