Journal of Chemical Ecology (2006) 32, 595-604

Guoqing Li and Yukio Ishikawa (2006)
Leaf epicuticular wax chemicals of the Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica as oviposition stimulants for Ostrinia latipennis
Journal of Chemical Ecology 32 (3), 595-604
Abstract: Extraction, fractionation, and gas chromatography−mass spectrometry analyses guided by bioassays have shown that n-alkanes and free fatty acids in leaf epicuticular wax of the Japanese knotweed Fallopia (Reynoutria) japonica stimulate oviposition in the Far-Eastern knotweed borer, Ostrinia latipennis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). n-Alkanes made up 48.1% of the total amount of epicuticular wax, and their carbon chain length was in the C₁₆−C₃₃ range, with n-nonacosane (n-C₂₉) most abundant, followed by n-C₂₇, n-C₂₅, and n-C₃₁. Free fatty acids with C₉−C₂₂ accounted for 22.3%, and hexadecanoic acid was predominant. A mixture of authentic n-alkanes and fatty acids of the composition found in the epicuticular wax, a mixture of n-alkanes, and a mixture of fatty acids significantly enhanced oviposition. Thus, it was demonstrated that both n-alkanes and free fatty acids in leaf epicuticular wax of F. japonica are naturally occurring oviposition stimulants for O. latipennis.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Guo-Qing Li, Yukio Ishikawa

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Reynoutria japonica (weed)
Ostrinia latipennis (weed bioagent)	Reynoutria japonica (weed)