Volatile interaction between undamaged plants affects tritrophic interactions through changed plant volatile emission

Abstract

Volatile interactions between unattacked plants can lead to changes in their volatile emissions. Exposure of potato plants to onion plant volatiles results in increased emission of 2 terpenoids, (E)-nerolidol and TMTT. We investigated whether this is detectable by the ladybird Coccinella septempunctata. The odor of onion-exposed potato was significantly more attractive to ladybirds than that of unexposed potato. Further, a synthetic blend mimicking the volatile profile of onion-exposed potato was more attractive than a blend mimicking that of unexposed potato. When presented individually, TMTT was attractive to ladybirds whereas (E)-nerolidol was repellent. Volatile exchange between unattacked plants and the consequent increased attractiveness for ladybirds may be a mechanism that contributes to the increased abundance of natural enemies in complex plant habitats.

Keywords

plant–plant communication; aphids; potato; onion; volatiles; (E)-nerolidol; TMTT; ladybird; Coccinella septempunctata; natural enemies

Published in

Plant Signaling and Behavior
2014, volume: 9, number: 8, article number: e29517

SLU Authors

• Vucetic, Andja

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Belgrade

• Dahlin, Iris

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Glinwood, Robert

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Webster, Ben

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ninkovic, Velemir

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Zoology
Botany

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/psb.29517

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66064