Plant Volatile Analogues Strengthen Attractiveness to Insect

Green leaf bug Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) is one of the major pests in agriculture. Management of A. lucorum was largely achieved by using pesticides. However, the increasing population of A. lucorum since growing Bt cotton widely and the increased awareness of ecoenvironment and agricultural product safety makes their population-control very challenging. Therefore this study was conducted to explore a novel ecological approach, synthetic plant volatile analogues, to manage the pest. Here, plant volatile analogues were first designed and synthesized by combining the bioactive components of β-ionone and benzaldehyde. The stabilities of β-ionone, benzaldehyde and analogue 3 g were tested. The electroantennogram (EAG) responses of A. lucorum adult antennae to the analogues were recorded. And the behavior assay and filed experiment were also conducted. In this study, thirteen analogues were acquired. The analogue 3 g was demonstrated to be more stable than β-ionone and benzaldehyde in the environment. Many of the analogues elicited EAG responses, and the EAG response values to 3 g remained unchanged during seven-day period. 3 g was also demonstrated to be attractive to A. lucorum adults in the laboratory behavior experiment and in the field. Its attractiveness persisted longer than β-ionone and benzaldehyde. This indicated that 3 g can strengthen attractiveness to insect and has potential as an attractant. Our results suggest that synthetic plant volatile analogues can strengthen attractiveness to insect. This is the first published study about synthetic plant volatile analogues that have the potential to be used in pest control. Our results will support a new ecological approach to pest control and it will be helpful to ecoenvironment and agricultural product safety.绿盲蝽（Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür)）是农业重大害虫之一，此前其防控主要通过施用农药实现。然而，随着转Bt棉花（Bt cotton）的广泛种植，绿盲蝽种群数量持续攀升，加之社会对生态环境与农产品安全的关注度日益提升，使得该害虫的种群防控工作极具挑战性。为此，本研究旨在探索一种新型生态防控策略——合成植物挥发物类似物（synthetic plant volatile analogues），以实现对该害虫的有效治理。 本研究首先通过整合β-紫罗兰酮（β-ionone）与苯甲醛（benzaldehyde）的生物活性组分，设计并合成了系列植物挥发物类似物。随后，我们测试了β-紫罗兰酮、苯甲醛以及类似物3g的环境稳定性；记录了绿盲蝽成虫触角对各类似物的触角电位（electroantennogram, EAG）反应；同时开展了室内行为学实验与田间试验。 本研究共获得13种植物挥发物类似物。其中，类似物3g在环境中的稳定性显著优于β-紫罗兰酮与苯甲醛。多数类似物均可引发绿盲蝽的触角电位反应，且3g的触角电位反应值在7天观测周期内始终保持稳定。室内行为学实验与田间试验均证实，3g对绿盲蝽成虫具有显著引诱活性，且其持效时长长于β-紫罗兰酮与苯甲醛。上述结果表明，3g可有效增强对昆虫的引诱效果，具备开发为害虫引诱剂的应用潜力。 本研究结果显示，合成植物挥发物类似物能够强化对昆虫的引诱活性，且本研究是全球范围内首项公开报道的、具备害虫防控应用潜力的合成植物挥发物类似物相关研究。本研究成果可为害虫生态防控提供全新的技术思路，同时有助于保护生态环境与保障农产品安全。