Abstract

Induced responses by Norway spruce (Picea abies) seedlings to feeding damage by two mite species were studied by analyzing the volatiles emitted during infestation. Four specimens of a Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) clone were infested with mites of Nalepella sp., another four with Oligonychus ununguis, and four were kept mite-free as controls. After a year of infestation, spruce volatiles were collected, analyzed, and identified using SPME-GC-MS. In addition, enantiomers of chiral limonene and linalool were separated by two-dimensional GC. Methyl salicylate (MeSA), (-)-linalool, (E)-beta-farnesene, and (E,E)-alpha-farnesene were the main volatiles induced by both species of mites, albeit in different proportions. The ability of the main compounds emitted by the mite-infested spruces to attract or repel the pine weevil, Hylobius abietis (L.), was tested. (E)-beta-farnesene was found to be attractive in the absence of spruce odor, whereas methyl salicylate had a deterrent effect in combination with attractive spruce odor. The other tested compounds had no significant effects on the behavior of the weevils.

Keywords

Acari; Hylobius abietis; Nalepella sp.; Oligonychus ununguis; Picea abies; Norway spruce; Linalool; Farnesene; Methyl salicylate; Sesquiterpenes-

Published in

Journal of Chemical Ecology
2009, Volume: 35, number: 10, pages: 1262-1271

SLU Authors

• Nordenhem, Henrik

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nordlander, Göran

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science
Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-009-9708-3

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/26830