Journal of Chemical Ecology (2007) 33, 2064-2077

Antonin Ferry, Sebastien Dugravot, Thomas Delattre, Jean-Philippe Christides, Jacques Auger, Anne-Geneviève Bagnères, Denis Poinsot and Anne-Marie Cortesero (2007)
Interspecific variation within the genus Asclepias in response to herbivory by a phloem-feeding insect herbivore
Journal of Chemical Ecology 33 (11), 2064-2077
Abstract: Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) was identified as a major volatile constituent of Brassica napus roots heavily infested by Delia radicum, the cabbage root fly. Attractiveness of this widespread compound was tested in the field in a naturally complex odorous environment. By using an original setup especially designed for ground dwelling beetles, different concentrations of the pure molecule as well as attractiveness of the natural blend emitted by the rotten part of infested roots were tested simultaneously. The use of general linear model (GLM) statistics permitted us to finely discriminate the responses among the different treatments. The main predators of D. radicum (i.e., two staphylinids Aleochara bilineata and Aleochara bipustulata and carabid beetles of the genus Bembidion) were significantly attracted by DMDS, but responded in different ways to the natural blend and to the different concentrations tested. The dose-response curves were similar for the two staphylinids. However, whereas A. bilineata was more attracted by the natural volatile blend than by its preferred DMDS concentration, A. bipustulata was attracted as much by the natural blend as by its preferred DMDS concentration. Carabid beetles exhibited a different response. They were not attracted by the natural blend, but responded to a wider range of DMDS concentrations that included low concentrations that did not attract the staphylinid beetles. These results are discussed according to the potential resources searched by each taxon studied and their specificity for the resources. The possible use of DMDS for enhancing biological control of D. radicum is mentioned.
(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): Antonin Ferry, Anne-Geneviève Bagnères, Anne Marie Cortesero, Sébastien Dugravot

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Delia radicum	Rape/canola (Brassica napus)
Bembidion (genus - predators)	Delia radicum	Rape/canola (Brassica napus)
Aleochara bilineata (parasitoid)	Delia radicum	Rape/canola (Brassica napus)
Aleochara bipustulata (parasitoid)	Delia radicum	Rape/canola (Brassica napus)