Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) floral volatiles causing attraction of Epilachna dodecastigma (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) |
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| Authors: | Nupur Sarkar Saubhik Mitra |
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| Institution: | Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, West Bengal, India |
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| Abstract: | Epilachna dodecastigma (Wied.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) causes economic losses to bitter gourd, Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) production in India and Bangladesh because adults feed on the leaves and flowers resulting death of the plant. This insect is currently controlled by insecticides, which are harmful to human health and environment. We studied the behavioral responses of E. dodecastigma females to floral volatiles and synthetic compounds comparable to floral volatiles in a Y-tube olfactometer to determine their potential for monitoring this pest. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) analyses of M. charantia floral volatiles revealed the presence of 20 compounds. Myrcene was predominant followed by methyl jasmonate and 1-octadecanol in floral volatiles. Epilachna dodecastigma females were attracted to floral volatiles by a Y-tube olfactometer bioassay. Females were attracted to individual synthetic 1-heptanol, sabinene, myrcene and ocimene at 16, 1, 20, and 8 µg/25 mL methylene chloride in a dose response bioassay, respectively, and hence, these compounds might be used for insect pest management strategies such as baited traps. |
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| Keywords: | Bitter gourd flower volatiles Epilachna dodecastigma Y-tube olfactometer bioassay 1-heptanol sabinene myrcene ocimene |
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