Identification and application of bacterial volatiles to attract a generalist aphid parasitoid: from laboratory to greenhouse assays

Goelen, Tim, Vuts, József, Sobhy, Islam S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4984-1823, Wäckers, Felix, Caulfield, John C, Birkett, Michael A, Rediers, Hans, Jacquemyn, Hans and Lievens, Bart 2021. Identification and application of bacterial volatiles to attract a generalist aphid parasitoid: from laboratory to greenhouse assays. Pest Management Science 77 (2) , pp. 930-938. 10.1002/ps.6102

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Abstract

BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that microorganisms emit volatile compounds that affect insect behaviour. However, it remains largely unclear whether microbes can be exploited as a source of attractants to improve biological control of insect pests. In this study, we used a combination of coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography (GC–EAG) and Y-tube olfactometer bioassays to identify attractive compounds in the volatile extracts of three bacterial strains that are associated with the habitat of the generalist aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani, and to create mixtures of synthetic compounds to find attractive blends for A. colemani. Subsequently, the most attractive blend was evaluated in two-choice cage experiments under greenhouse conditions. RESULTS GC–EAG analysis revealed 20 compounds that were linked to behaviourally attractive bacterial strains. A mixture of two EAG-active compounds, styrene and benzaldehyde applied at a respective dose of 1 μg and 10 ng, was more attractive than the single compounds or the culture medium of the bacteria in Y-tube olfactometer bioassays. Application of this synthetic mixture under greenhouse conditions resulted in significant attraction of the parasitoids, and outperformed application of the bacterial culture medium. CONCLUSION Compounds isolated from bacterial blends were capable of attracting parasitoids both in laboratory and greenhouse assays, indicating that microbial cultures are an effective source of insect attractants. This opens new opportunities to attract and retain natural enemies of pest species and to enhance biological pest control.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Biosciences
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	1526-498X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	6 December 2021
Date of Acceptance:	25 August 2020
Last Modified:	02 Dec 2024 13:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/145963

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