Journal of Chemical Ecology (2003) 29, 639-652

Alexandre Quintana, Judith Reinhard, Robert Faure, Paolo Uva, Anne-Geneviève Bagnères, Georges Massiot and Jean-Luc Clément (2003)
Interspecific variation in terpenoid composition of defensive secretions of European Reticulitermes termites
Journal of Chemical Ecology 29 (3), 639-652
Abstract: Sixteen terpene compounds were isolated from the soldier defensive secretions of seven European termite taxa of the genus Reticulitermes (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). We describe species-specific mixtures of monoterpenes (alpha-pinene, ß-pinene, limonene), sesquiterpenes (germacrene C, germacrene A, germacrene B, ß-selinene, delta-selinene, gamma-selinene, (E)-ß-farnesene, gamma-cadinene, nerolidol), diterpenes (geranyl linalool, geranyl geraniol, geranyl geranial), and one sesterterpene (geranyl farnesol). Compounds were purified by HPLC and their structures determined by means of MS spectrometry, or 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Comparison of two different analytical approaches, GC-MS and HPLC with subsequent NMR spectroscopy, revealed Cope rearrangement of germacrene A, germacrene B, and germacrene C to the respective ß-elemene, gamma-elemene, and delta-elemene under GC conditions, thus demonstrating the limits for this analytical approach. The species-specific compound composition provides insight into taxonomy and species origin of European Reticulitermes. The biological significance of the species-specific composition of Reticulitermes defensive secretions is briefly discussed.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Anne-Geneviève Bagnères

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Reticulitermes (genus)