Searching attractants for the detection of potato Epitrix species

Resumen

In order to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) attractive to Epitrix spp. adults, field and laboratory experiments were carried out in sequence. In the field, black nightshade potted plants attracted significantly more Epitrix spp. adults than potato, aubergine, tomato and common lambsquarters. Following this result, headspace samples were collected from non-infested and from E. papa infested plants of potato, aubergine and black nightshade. VOC profiling by GC-MS analysis identified potential attractants which were tested as single compounds or as a mixture in a field experiment (1,3-butanediol, Z3-6:Ac/Linalool (1:1), (E)-β-farnesene and a blank control). Traps baited with Z3-6:Ac/Linalool (1:1) attracted significantly more E. papa and E. cucumeris adults than the control. To find synergist substances to improve the attractiveness of this mixture, the choice of individual E. papa adults between this mixture alone or combined with several other plant VOCs, was sequentially tested in a Y-tube olfactometer. Adding (E)-β-ocimene to Z3-6:Ac/Linalool (1:3) increased the attractiveness of the mixture. This result was verified in two field experiments. The results were promising and encourage more research.