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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2025, Vol. 24 Issue (2): 655-667    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.05.029
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Characterization of core maize volatiles induced by Spodoptera frugiperda that alter the mating-mediated approach–avoidance behaviors of Mythimna separata

Denghai Yang1, 2*, Hengzhe Fan1, 2*, Ruyi Hu1, 2, Yong Huang1, Chengwang Sheng1, Haiqun Cao1, Bin Yang2#, Xingchuan Jiang1, 2#

1 Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management/Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China

2 State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China

 Highlights 
● Mythimna separata females display different approach–avoidance behaviors under different mating status towards Spodoptera frugiperda-infested maize plants.
● Seven HIPVs were identified in S. frugiperda-infested maize plants.
● Trans-β-farnesene is identified as the core compound for repelling virgin females of M. separata, and trans-2-hexenal is identified as the key attractant for oviposition of mated females of M. separata.
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摘要  
草地贪夜蛾(Spodoptera frugiperda)是一种对玉米具有毁灭性危害的入侵害虫,通过资源竞争等机制显著的影响本地物种和群落。然而,草地贪夜蛾与本地害虫之间的互作关系并不清楚。在本研究中,我们明确了不同交配状态下东方粘虫雌成虫对草地贪夜蛾幼虫为害的玉米植株表现出不同的行为选择:草地贪夜蛾幼虫为害的玉米植株驱避未交配的雌性东方粘虫成虫,但是吸引交配后的雌性东方粘虫成虫。为了进一步解明这种行为差异的嗅觉机制,我们利用气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析并鉴定到草地贪夜蛾幼虫为害的玉米植株特异性释放了七种挥发物组分,分别是反式-2-己烯醇、芳樟醇、反式-β-法尼烯、顺式-3-乙酸己烯酯、β-石竹烯、反式-α-佛手柑烯和乙酸异戊酯。进一步对不同交配状态的雌性东方粘虫成虫进行了电生理和行为测定,结果表明,反式-β-法尼烯是驱避未交配雌性东方粘虫成虫的核心化合物,反式-2-己烯醛是引诱已交配雌性东方粘虫成虫产卵的核心化合物。该研究结果有助于深入了解外来入侵物种与本地害虫之间的互作机制,为基于害虫嗅觉系统研发害虫行为调控剂提供理论基础。


Abstract  

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is an invasive species and a destructive pest of maize, which significantly impacts native species and communities via complex mechanisms like competition for resources. However, the interaction between S. frugiperda and local pests remains unclear. In this study, we determined that Oriental armyworm (Mythimna separata) females with different mating status displayed different approach-avoidance behaviors towards maize which was damaged by S. frugiperda larvae. The virgin M. separata females were repelled, while the mated females were attracted by the S. frugiperda-damaged maize. To further understand the olfactory mechanism of this phenomenon, seven volatiles induced by S. frugiperda in maize were characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), including trans-2-hexenal, linalool, trans-β-farnesene, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, β-caryophyllene, trans-α-bergamotene, and isopentyl acetate. Additionally, electrophysiological and behavioral assays of the seven compounds were performed using both virgin and mated females of M. separata. We determined that virgin and mated females displayed different responses to the HIPV compounds. Trans-β-farnesene was the core compound for repelling virgin females, and trans-2-hexenal was the key attractant for oviposition in mated female M. separata individuals. These findings help our comprehension of the relationships between maize pests and offer new possibilities for controlling them by olfactory-based strategies. 


Keywords:  chemical ecology       mating behavior        attractants        repellents        HIPVs        plant volatiles  
Received: 05 February 2024   Accepted: 19 April 2024
Fund: 
This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFD1400700), the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province, China (2308085MC89), and the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ASTIP).
About author:  Denghai Yang, E-mail: ydhc2814@163.com; Hengzhe Fan, E-mail: f04hz14@163.com; #Correspondence Bin Yang, E-mail: yangbin@caas.cn; Xingchuan Jiang, E-mail: jxc678@sina.cn * These authors contributed equally to this study.

Cite this article: 

Denghai Yang, Hengzhe Fan, Ruyi Hu, Yong Huang, Chengwang Sheng, Haiqun Cao, Bin Yang, Xingchuan Jiang. 2025. Characterization of core maize volatiles induced by Spodoptera frugiperda that alter the mating-mediated approach–avoidance behaviors of Mythimna separata. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 24(2): 655-667.

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