Response of gravid females of Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) to volatiles of four varieties of Quince (Cydonia Oblonga) in a Y-tube olfactometer

A. DIAZ; F. JOFRE BARUD; S. LÓPEZ; G. FERESIN; A. TAPIA; L. LÓPEZ

Congreso; 1º Joint Meeting International Society of Chemical Ecology/Asociación Latinoamericana de Ecología Química.; 2016

Knowledge of theinteractions between codling moth, Cydia pomonella L., and its mainhosts (apples and pears) is reasonably advanced from the perspective ofchemical ecology. However, for quince, Cydonia oblonga Miller, such studiesare absent. Since varieties of fruit crop species show different patterns ofsusceptibility to pest attack, we studied the response of gravid females ofcodling moth against four varieties of quince. Mated females were offered adual choice between fruit volatiles and control (clean air) in a Y-tubeolfactometer under laboratory conditions (24 ± 2◦C, 50 ± 5% RH). Assays wereperformed in the scotophase and twenty females were tested for each fruitvariety. Time elapsed until the election and, first and final choices of thefemales were registered in a 10 min period. In addition, the time (s) spent ineach arm of the device was recorded. Females showed preference for fruitvolatiles (75 to 81% went to the fruit arm). At the first choice, only Smyrnaand Mendoza-147 varieties displayed significant elections (p=0.04). Femalesspent more time in the arm with fruit volatiles than in the control but, onlySmyrna and Champion varieties showed significant differences (p=0.007 andp=0.026, respectively). After 10 min period, the four varieties were preferredover the control (p<0.05). The lowest average time to initiate an electionwas registered against Smyrna and the greatest was for Champion varieties.According to our preliminary studies, the volatile profile for the varietySmyrna has the highest relative content in pear ester, (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate,the kairomone of adult codling moth. The marked response to the variety Smyrnaby females could be related with its high content in pear ester. More studiesare necessary to evaluate this hypothesis. Acknowledgements: To CICITCA-UNSJ,ANPCyT, DSVAA from San Juan Government and EEA-INTA-San Juan, ARGENTINA.