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Title: VOLATILES INVOLVED IN THE NON-HOST REJECTION OF FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA BY LYMANTRIA DISPAR LARVAE

Author
item MARKOVIC, INGRID - UNIV OF WISCONSIN
item NORRIS, DALE - UNIV OF WISCONSIN
item Phillips, Joel
item WEBSTER, FRANCIS - SUNY-CESF

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Gypsy moth larvae can cause serious defoliation damage to host trees whose natural odors act as attractants and feeding stimulants. Green ash foliage, however, releases volatiles that repel gypsy moth larvae, thus saving the tree from serious damage. Our study revealed that repellency was due in part to linalool, an important component of the green ash leaf odor. Since gypsy moth damage can have a major effect on the economic, recreational, and aesthetic quality of forests, it is important to understand the mechanism by which the insect distinguishes between host and non-host trees.

Technical Abstract: Volatiles from green ash foliage or ambient air were trapped on an absorbent polymer (Super Q) and their chemical identities determined by GC-MS analysis. Effects of the whole mixture and some individual chemical components of green ash volatiles on gypsy moth larval locomotory behavior were assayed in a T-tube olfactometer. Green ash volatiles (treatment) proved significantly repellent to gypsy moth larvae as compared to volatiles from the ambient air (control). Such observed effects were due in part to linalool. The relatively major component, trans-ocimene, proved to be non-repellent. Qualitative and quantitative differences in green ash chemistry were evident depending on whether they were trapped in July vs. September. The significance of such volatiles in gypsy moth larval orientation and host/non-host selection is discussed.