Microorganism-associated semiochemicals reduce the size of aphid populations in potato fields
- Alabi, T. , Brostaux, Y. , Agricorrescu, A. , Fischer, C. , Thonart, P. , Lognay, G. , Haubruge, E. , Francis, F. & Verheggen, F. (2014). Microorganism-associated semiochemicals reduce the size of aphid populations in potato fields. Revue des Régions arides, 35: (3/2014), 1695-1701.
| Type | Journal Article |
| Year | 2014 |
| Title | Microorganism-associated semiochemicals reduce the size of aphid populations in potato fields |
| Journal | Revue des Régions arides |
| Label | U14_2014 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 3/2014 |
| Pages | 1695-1701 |
| Endnote keywords | GC-SPME, aphid noneydew |
| Abstract | The chemical cues released by many insect species, including agricultural pests, are used by predators and parasitoids to locate their prey or host. For instance, aphids excrete honeydew, which contains bacteria that produce semiochemicals. Ladybeetles and hoverflies use these semiochemicals to locate the colonies of prey aphid species. One bacterium (Staphylococcus sciuri) has been identified in the honeydew of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. This bacterium is responsible for the production of kairomonal substances, which guide hoverflies to aphid colonies. In the present study, we cultivated S. sciuri, and used solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to confirm the ability of this bacterium to produce 3-methyl-2-butenal and 3-methyl-2-butenoic acid, which previous studies have demonstrated as being the two semiochemicals that exhibit kairomonal activity. We subsequently conducted field experiments to evaluate the efficiency of two solutions as biological products to control aphid populations inhabiting potato plants; the first solution contained a suspension of living S. sciuri, and the second solution contained a mixture of the two semiochemicals produced by this bacterium. While the semiochemical solution did not lead to a significant reduction in aphid number, potato plants treated with the S. sciuri solution were infested with 28% less aphids compared to untreated plants. This study demonstrates the potential of using naturally occurring bacteria as a form of biological control of aphid infestations in agricultural management. |
| Author address | g.sinnaeve@cra.wallonie.be |
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| Authors | Alabi, T., Brostaux, Y., Agricorrescu, A., Fischer, C., Thonart, P., Lognay, G., Haubruge, E., Francis, F., Verheggen, F. |
