Abstract

The pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, is a severe forest pest insect as it feeds on newly planted conifer seedlings. To identify and develop an antifeedant could be one step towards the protection of seedlings from feeding damage by the pine weevil. With the aim to trace the origin of the antifeedants previously found in feces of the pine weevil, we investigated the culturable bacteria associated with the gut and identified the volatiles they produced. Bacterial isolates were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis. The volatile emissions of selected bacteria, cultivated on NB media or on the grated phloem of Scots pine twigs dispersed in water, were collected and analyzed by solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The bacterial isolates released a variety of compounds, among others 2-methoxyphenol, 2-phenylethanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide. A strong antifeedant effect was observed by 2-phenylethanol, which could thus be a good candidate for use to protect planted conifer seedlings against feeding damage caused by H. abietis.

Keywords

Hylobius abietis; Rahnella; Brevundimonas; 2-Methoxyphenol; 2-Phenylethanol; Antifeedant

Published in

Microbial Ecology
2017, Volume: 74, number: 1, pages: 177-184
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Terenius, Olle

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nordenhem, Henrik

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nordlander, Göran

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network


UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-016-0915-5

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/91085