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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #408047
Research Project: Mitigation of Invasive Pest Threats to U.S. Subtropical Agriculture

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Volatile characterization of lychee plant tissues (Litchi chinensis) and the effect of key compounds on the behavior of the lychee erinose mite (Aceria litchii)

Author
item ATAIDE, LIVIA - University Of Florida
item Tabanca, Nurhayat
item CANON, MARIA - University Of Florida
item Schnell, Elena
item NARVAEZ, TERESA - Former ARS Employee
item Cloonan, Kevin
item KENDRA, PAUL - Retired ARS Employee
item CARRILLO, DANIEL - University Of Florida
item REVYNTHI, ALEXANDRA - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2023
Publication Date: 8/1/2023
Citation: Ataide, L.M., Tabanca, N., Canon, M.A., Schnell, E.Q., Narvaez, T.I., Cloonan, K.R., Kendra, P.E., Carrillo, D., Revynthi, A.M. 2023. Volatile characterization of lychee plant tissues (Litchi chinensis) and the effect of key compounds on the behavior of the lychee erinose mite (Aceria litchii). Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting.

Interpretive Summary: ABSTRACT ONLY

Technical Abstract: Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles (HIPVs) are volatile signals emitted by plants to deter herbivores and attract their natural enemies. To date, it is unknown how lychee plants, Litchi chinensis, respond to the induction of leaf galls (erinea) caused by the lychee erinose mite (LEM), Aceria litchii. Aiming to reveal the role of HIPVs in this plant-mite interaction, we investigated changes in the volatile profile of lychee plants infested by LEM and their role on LEM preferences. The volatile profile of uninfested (flower buds, fruit, leaves and new leaf shoots) and infested plant tissue were characterized under different levels of LEM infestation. Volatiles were collected using head- space-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. Fifty-eight volatiles, including terpenoids, alcohols, aldehydes, alkanes, esters, and ketones classes were identified. Using dual-choice bioassays, we investigated the preference of LEM to uninfested plant tissues and to the six most abundant plant volatiles identified. Uninfested new leaf shoots were the most attractive plant tissues to LEM and LEM attraction or repellence to volatiles were mostly influenced by compound concentration. We discuss possible applications of our findings in agricultural settings.