Attraction of Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) towards Lathyrus sativus L. flower volatiles

Abstract

The aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch sucks cell sap from flowers and leaves of Lathyrus sativus L. Females were attracted towards volatiles from undamaged (UD) and insect-damaged (ID) flowers of two L. sativus cultivars [BIO L 212 Ratan (BIO) and Nirmal B-1 (NIR)] against solvent controls (CH₂Cl₂) in Y-tube olfactometer bioassays. ID flower volatiles were not less attractive than UD flower volatiles. Females were repelled from volatiles of jasmonic-acid (JA) treated flowers. Synthetic blends resembling UD or ID flower volatiles were attractive than solvent controls. Females could not differentiate between natural flower volatiles and synthetic blends resembling UD or ID flower volatiles. A synthetic blend of 1-nonanol and 1-hexadecene resembling amounts released by ID NIR flower volatiles could be used as lures in developing bait for traps to control this insect pest in integrated pest management programs. Females were repelled from synthetic blends comprised of farnesene, β-caryophyllene and methyl jasmonate resembling amounts released by JA treated flower volatiles. Both these blends could be applied in L. sativus crop fields during flowering to repel A. craccivora.

Keywords:

• Lathyrus sativus
• Aphis craccivora
• Flower volatiles
• Jasmonic acid
• Y-tube olfactometer

Acknowledgments

We thank anonymous reviewers for many helpful suggestions of an earlier version of the manuscript. We are thankful to Prof. Samiran Chakrabarti, ex-Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, West Bengal for authenticating the insect.

Authors’ contribution

AB and PM designed experiments; PM performed bioassays. PM & SM did chemical analyses; AB & PM analysed data; PM & SM made the Figs; AB wrote the manuscript. All authors edited the manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

Data available from the Zenodo data repository: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5078455.

Additional information

Funding

The financial assistance from the DST-SERB, New Delhi, Govt. of India to Anandamay Barik [EEQ/2017/000018] is gratefully acknowledged. We are thankful to DST PURSE Phase-II for providing necessary instrumental facilities.