Green Leaf Volatile Function in Both the Natural Defense System of <i>Rumex confertus</i> and Associated Insects’ Behavior
<i>Rumex confertus</i> is a rhizomatous, invasive, and difficult to control plant. Nevertheless, for sustainable agriculture, studies to biologically control <i>R. confertus</i> continue. Towards this, considerable attention has been devoted to investigating the emission of a...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| author | Dariusz Piesik Jacek Łyczko Krzysztof Krawczyk Magdalena Gantner Jan Bocianowski Veronika Ruzsanyi Chris A. Mayhew |
| author_facet | Dariusz Piesik Jacek Łyczko Krzysztof Krawczyk Magdalena Gantner Jan Bocianowski Veronika Ruzsanyi Chris A. Mayhew |
| author_sort | Dariusz Piesik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Rumex confertus</i> is a rhizomatous, invasive, and difficult to control plant. Nevertheless, for sustainable agriculture, studies to biologically control <i>R. confertus</i> continue. Towards this, considerable attention has been devoted to investigating the emission of a wide array of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from herbivore-damaged plants, which are known to induce protection measures in neighboring, undamaged plants. The goals of this study are to (1) determine if the profile of green leaf volatiles (GLVs), which are organic compounds naturally produced by undamaged plants, is similar to that provoked by the chemical stimulants Z-jasmone (ZJA) and dihydrojasmone (DJA), (2) establish if the <i>Apion miniatum</i> beetle’s reproductive choices are influenced by their sex and mating status, and (3) assess if chemically stimulated GLV emissions can be used as signals to attract pests to <i>R. confertus</i> for biological control purposes. Synthetic forms of naturally produced Z-jasmone (ZJA) and dihydrojasmone (DJA), which can act as either an attractant or a repellent of various species of insects, were used to treat <i>R. confertus</i>. In olfactory analysis, the behavioral responses of individual insects to mated and unmated insects and to two GLV blends were evaluated. It was found that unmated male insects were fairly equally divided between going for food (Y-tube olfactometer arm with a GLV blend) and opportunities for reproduction (Y-tube olfactometer arm with unmated females). However, an increase in the GLV blend concentration attracted the insects. Meanwhile, unmated females were definitely indifferent to food and, independent of the GLV blend dose, were more interested in reproduction. Mated males, even with weak feed stimuli, increased their reproduction activity, in opposition to mated females. We provide evidence that synthetic GLV blends can be used to attract predators, making their use an effective means to biologically control <i>R. confertus</i>. The idea of applying synthetic GLVs as a biological control is based on the insects’ mutual relationships, which work as follows: (i) mated males fully invade the weed, (ii) reproduction-driven females follow the mated males to R. <i>confertus</i>, and (iii) the unmated males follow the females with the purpose to reproduce. Therefore, all insect groups (mated and unmated males and females) can be induced to invade the weed. Upon feeding, the insects will damage the generative organs of <i>R. confertus</i>. We propose that the use of chemical stimulants to increase GLV emissions can be effectively used for weed (here <i>R. confertus</i>) control by attracting a plant pest (here <i>A. miniatum</i>). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:12:42Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-24f14aefc53b495bb8936fb8e69763162023-11-16T18:53:02ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-02-01134225310.3390/app13042253Green Leaf Volatile Function in Both the Natural Defense System of <i>Rumex confertus</i> and Associated Insects’ BehaviorDariusz Piesik0Jacek Łyczko1Krzysztof Krawczyk2Magdalena Gantner3Jan Bocianowski4Veronika Ruzsanyi5Chris A. Mayhew6Department of Biology and Plant Protection, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 7 Prof. Kaliskiego Ave., 85-796 Bydgoszcz, PolandDepartment of Food Chemistry and Biocatalysis, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 53-375 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Virology and Bacteriology, Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Functional and Organic Food, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 28 Wojska Polskiego, 60-637 Poznań, PolandInstitute for Breath Research, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 66, A-6020 Innsbruck, AustriaInstitute for Breath Research, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 66, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria<i>Rumex confertus</i> is a rhizomatous, invasive, and difficult to control plant. Nevertheless, for sustainable agriculture, studies to biologically control <i>R. confertus</i> continue. Towards this, considerable attention has been devoted to investigating the emission of a wide array of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from herbivore-damaged plants, which are known to induce protection measures in neighboring, undamaged plants. The goals of this study are to (1) determine if the profile of green leaf volatiles (GLVs), which are organic compounds naturally produced by undamaged plants, is similar to that provoked by the chemical stimulants Z-jasmone (ZJA) and dihydrojasmone (DJA), (2) establish if the <i>Apion miniatum</i> beetle’s reproductive choices are influenced by their sex and mating status, and (3) assess if chemically stimulated GLV emissions can be used as signals to attract pests to <i>R. confertus</i> for biological control purposes. Synthetic forms of naturally produced Z-jasmone (ZJA) and dihydrojasmone (DJA), which can act as either an attractant or a repellent of various species of insects, were used to treat <i>R. confertus</i>. In olfactory analysis, the behavioral responses of individual insects to mated and unmated insects and to two GLV blends were evaluated. It was found that unmated male insects were fairly equally divided between going for food (Y-tube olfactometer arm with a GLV blend) and opportunities for reproduction (Y-tube olfactometer arm with unmated females). However, an increase in the GLV blend concentration attracted the insects. Meanwhile, unmated females were definitely indifferent to food and, independent of the GLV blend dose, were more interested in reproduction. Mated males, even with weak feed stimuli, increased their reproduction activity, in opposition to mated females. We provide evidence that synthetic GLV blends can be used to attract predators, making their use an effective means to biologically control <i>R. confertus</i>. The idea of applying synthetic GLVs as a biological control is based on the insects’ mutual relationships, which work as follows: (i) mated males fully invade the weed, (ii) reproduction-driven females follow the mated males to R. <i>confertus</i>, and (iii) the unmated males follow the females with the purpose to reproduce. Therefore, all insect groups (mated and unmated males and females) can be induced to invade the weed. Upon feeding, the insects will damage the generative organs of <i>R. confertus</i>. We propose that the use of chemical stimulants to increase GLV emissions can be effectively used for weed (here <i>R. confertus</i>) control by attracting a plant pest (here <i>A. miniatum</i>).https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/4/2253synthetic green leaf volatile stimulantspest controlinvasive plantsecological chemistrysustainable agricultureY-tube olfactometer |
| spellingShingle | Dariusz Piesik Jacek Łyczko Krzysztof Krawczyk Magdalena Gantner Jan Bocianowski Veronika Ruzsanyi Chris A. Mayhew Green Leaf Volatile Function in Both the Natural Defense System of <i>Rumex confertus</i> and Associated Insects’ Behavior Applied Sciences synthetic green leaf volatile stimulants pest control invasive plants ecological chemistry sustainable agriculture Y-tube olfactometer |
| title | Green Leaf Volatile Function in Both the Natural Defense System of <i>Rumex confertus</i> and Associated Insects’ Behavior |
| title_full | Green Leaf Volatile Function in Both the Natural Defense System of <i>Rumex confertus</i> and Associated Insects’ Behavior |
| title_fullStr | Green Leaf Volatile Function in Both the Natural Defense System of <i>Rumex confertus</i> and Associated Insects’ Behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Green Leaf Volatile Function in Both the Natural Defense System of <i>Rumex confertus</i> and Associated Insects’ Behavior |
| title_short | Green Leaf Volatile Function in Both the Natural Defense System of <i>Rumex confertus</i> and Associated Insects’ Behavior |
| title_sort | green leaf volatile function in both the natural defense system of i rumex confertus i and associated insects behavior |
| topic | synthetic green leaf volatile stimulants pest control invasive plants ecological chemistry sustainable agriculture Y-tube olfactometer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/4/2253 |
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