Role of kairomone in biological control of crop pests-A review

Authors: MURALI-BASKARAN, RAMASAMY - Indian Council Of Agricultural Research (ICAR); SHARMA, KAILASH - Indian Council Of Agricultural Research (ICAR); KAUSHAL, PANKAJ - Indian Council Of Agricultural Research (ICAR); KUMAR, JAGDISH - Indian Council Of Agricultural Research (ICAR); PARTHIBAN, PACKIRISAMY - Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College; SENTHIL-NATHAN, SENGOTTAYAN - Manomaniam Sundaranar University; Mankin, Richard

Submitted to: Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/18/2017
Publication Date: 7/20/2017
Citation: Murali-Baskaran, R.K., Sharma, K.C., Kaushal, P., Kumar, J., Parthiban, P., Senthil-Nathan, S., Mankin, R.W. 2017. Role of kairomone in biological control of crop pests-A review. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology. 101:3-15.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2017.07.004

Interpretive Summary: The use of natural enemies against insect crop pests is an important tool for integrated pest management (IPM). Unfortunately, although insect predators and parasitoids are abundant in natural conditions, they often are unable to reduce populations of insect pests to economically acceptable levels, which appears to be due in part to a limited searching capacity for target insects. Kairomones are volatile organic chemicals attractive to natural enemies of crop pests. Some kairomones are released by host plants stressed by pest attack, while others are inadvertently released by the pests themselves. To develop improved methods for use of kairomones in pest management, students and scientists at agricultural Universities in India and scientists at the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, Florida, conducted a review of examples where the utility of kairomones for biological control has been demonstrated. Based on these accounts the authors establish guidelines for kairomone applications in integrated pest management. This information is of value to farmers and managers attempting to reduce pesticide usage thought IMP practices.

Technical Abstract: Kairomones are inter-specific semiochemicals which mediate interactions beneficial to organisms that detect them. The use of kairomones for biocontrol of insect pests has been of interest for several decades due to the fundamental importance of host-plant selection by phytophagous insects, as well as the potential of natural enemies to co-opt those processes in ensuring their own survival. Pest management efforts that enhance the effectiveness of natural enemies can reduce economic loss from pest insects while also reducing many negative effects of insecticide usage. Unfortunately, although insect predators, parasitoids, and parasites, ‘entomophages’, are abundant in natural conditions, they often are unable to reduce populations of insect pests to economically acceptable levels, partly due to limited host-searching capacity. Here, we discuss known examples where utility of kairomones for biological control has been demonstrated and consider their ultimate potential for biological control.