Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (1999) 93, 77-86

R. Gols, M.A. Posthumus and M. Dicke (1999)
Jasmonic acid induces the production of gerbera volatiles that attract the biological control agent Phytoseiulus persimilis
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 93 (1), 77-86
Abstract: Jasmonic acid (JA) is a plant hormone that is involved in the induction of plant defence in response to herbivore attack. We studied the effect of exposure of gerbera leaves to JA on indirect plant defence, i.e. attraction of natural enemies of herbivores. Treatment of gerbera leaves with JA or feeding damage by the herbivorous spider mite Tetranychus urticae, both induced the production of a complex odour blend that attracts the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis. This phytoseiid predator is a very effective biological control agent of the spider mite T. urticae. Comparison of headspace composition of gerbera leaves exposed to either JA or T. urticae revealed a large degree of resemblance, but some quantitative and qualitative differences were recorded. The major chemical group in both treatments is formed by the terpenoids which quantitatively comprised up to 80% of the total odour blend. These terpenoids included (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, (E)-ß-ocimene and linalool that are known to attract P. persimilis. Aldehydes, alcohols, esters and ketones, together with nitrogenous compounds formed the remaining constituents of the odour blend. The induction of predator attractants in plants by JA may be applied in biological control programs, which is discussed in this paper.
(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): Rieta Gols, Marcel Dicke

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus urticae	Gerbera (crop)
Phytoseiulus persimilis (predator)	Tetranychus urticae	Gerbera (crop)