Females and males of the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis induce different volatile profiles in maize. Consequences for a natural enemy

HILL JORGE GUILLERMO; FERNANDEZ PATRICIA CARINA; VIRLA EDUARDO GABRIEL; LUFT ALBARRACIN ERICA; ARÁOZ, M. VICTORIA COLL

Conferencia; 7th International Entomophagous Insects Conference; 2023

We contrasted the induction of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) inmaize after the infestation by females and males of the specialist leafhopperDalbulus maidis. In addition, we tested the behavioral response of the eggparasitoid Anagrus virlai to VOCs emitted by female-infested, male-infestedand healthy plants. Plants induced by D. maidis females released significantlymore VOCs than plants infested by males and healthy plants. αBergamotene, β-farnesene, β-caryophyllene and cis-3-hexenyl acetatedominated the volatile blend in plants infested by females, however the lasttwo compounds were absent in those plants infested by males, that had nooviposited eggs. Anagrus virlai wasps oriented toward VOCs from plantsinfested by females rather than those infested by males. β-Caryophylleneand cis-3-hexenyl acetate could be key volatiles for wasps´ host finding.