Journal of Chemical Ecology (2008) 34, 1518-1522

C. J. Mayer, A. Vilcinskas, J. Gross (2008)
Pathogen-induced release of plant allomone manipulates vector insect behavior
Journal of Chemical Ecology 34 (12), 1518-1522
Abstract: Infochemicals mediate communication within and between different trophic levels. In this study, we identified a new type of plant allomone induced by a plant pathogen and perceived by its vector insect Cacopsylla picta. This phloem-feeding psyllid is the main vector of Candidatus Phytoplasma mali, a cell wall-lacking bacterium that causes the so-called apple proliferation disease. In a previous study, we showed that newly emerged females of C. picta were attracted by the odor of phytoplasma-infected apple plants (Malus domestica), which release ß-caryophyllene in contrast to uninfected plants. Here, the attractiveness of this sesquiterpene for C. picta was confirmed in both olfactometer bioassays and field studies. Synthetic ß-caryophyllene was highly attractive to newly emerged adults of C. picta both when offered simultaneously with healthy apple odor and without. The psyllid’s response was independent of its odor experience and infection status. These results confirm our previously established hypothesis that this phytoplasma manipulates the behavior of its vector insect by changing the odor blend of its host plant. Deployed in apple orchards, sticky traps baited with ß-caryophyllene dispensers caught both males and females of C. picta. Consequently, this new type of infochemical, i.e., a phytopathogen-induced plant allomone, represents a promising compound to develop innovative techniques for monitoring or maybe even mass trapping of C. picta.
(The abstract has been supplied by the author or ISPI and is excluded from the Creative Commons licence.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jürgen Gross

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cacopsylla picta	Apple (Malus)	Germany
	Phytoplasma mali	Apple (Malus)	Germany