Journal of Entomological Science (1998) 33, 400-406

J.A. Klun, A.P. Khrimian and J.E. Oliver (1998)
Evidence of pheromone catabolism via beta-oxidation in the European corn borer (Lepidoptera : Crambidae)
Journal of Entomological Science 33 (4), 400-406
Abstract: Experiments were conducted using tritiated European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), pheromone, (Z)-[1 1,12-³H₂]-11-tetradecen-1-ol acetate, a tritiated fluorinated analog of the European corn borer pheromone, 2-fluoro-(Z)-[11,12-³H₂]-11-tetradecen-1-ol acetate, and methyl-4-bromocrotonate (MBC) to determine if pheromone catabolism proceeds on the moth's antennae via the ß-oxidation pathway of fatty acid degradation. When antennae were treated with tritiated natural pheromone plus MBC (a precursor of the known ß-oxidation inhibitor, 4-bromocrotonic acid), catabolism of the pheromone was significantly inhibited. When the 2-fluoro pheromone analog was applied alone to antennae, it was hydrolyzed to the corresponding alcohol but was not degraded. MBC had no effect on catabolism of the 2-fluoro analog, and 2-fluoro substitution inhibited entrance of the compound into ß-oxidation. These results demonstrate that ß-oxidation is the primary oxidative pathway by which pheromone is degraded on the antennae of European corn borer moths.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Jerome A. Klun, Ashot Khrimian

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ostrinia nubilalis