Effect of Fruit Volatiles from Native Host Plants on the Sexual Performance of Anastrepha fraterculus sp. 1 Males

BACHMANN, G. E.; BELLIARD, SILVINA A.; DEVESCOVI, F.; NUSSENBAUM, A. LAURA; FERNÁNDEZ, PATRICIA C.; VERA, M. TERESA; RUIZ, M. J.; SEGURA, DIEGO FERNANDO

insects mdpi

Insects Editorial Office

Año: 2023

2075-4450

Anastrepha fraterculus sp.1 males are sexually stimulated by the aroma of fruit of its nativehost Psidium guajava (guava). Other hosts, which are exotic to A. fraterculus, do not enhance malesexual behavior. Here we evaluate the effects of fruit volatile exposure on male A. fraterculus sp. 1sexual performance using other native hosts, under the hypothesis that male improvement derivesfrom a common evolutionary history between A. fraterculus sp. 1 and its native hosts. Four specieswere evaluated: Eugenia myrcianthes, Juglans australis, Psidium cattleianum, and Acca sellowiana.Guava was used as a positive control. Males were exposed to fruit from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, fromday 8 to day 11 post-emergence. On day 12, we evaluated their calling behavior and mating success.Both guava and P. cattleianum enhanced calling behavior. Mating success was enhanced only byguava and a trend was found for P. cattleianum. Interestingly, the two hosts belong to the Psidiumgenus. A volatile analysis is planned to identify the compounds responsible for this phenomenon.The other native fruits did not improve the sexual behavior of males. Implications of our findingsin the management of A. fraterculus sp. 1 are discussed