Olive Volatiles from Portuguese Cultivars Cobrancosa, Madural and Verdeal Transmontana: Role in Oviposition Preference of Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Malheiro, R (Author) Other; Susana Casal (Author) FFUP; Cunha, SC (Author) Other; Baptista, P (Author) Other; Pereira, JA (Author) Other

Journal

Title: PLoS ONE

Vol. 10

Final page: e0125070

ISSN: 1932-6203

Publisher: Public Library of Science

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 33 Citations

Scopus - 33 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-ASC

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125070

Abstract (EN): The olive fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), a serious threat to the olive crop worldwide, displays ovipositon preference for some olive cultivars but the causes are still unclear. In the present work, three Portuguese olive cultivars with different susceptibilities to olive fly (Cobrancosa, Madural, and Verdeal Transmontana) were studied, aiming to determine if the olive volatiles are implicated in this interaction. Olive volatiles were assessed by SPME-GC-MS in the three cultivars during maturation process to observe possible correlations with olive fly infestation levels. Overall, 34 volatiles were identified in the olives, from 7 chemical classes (alcohols, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ketones, sesquiterpenes, and terpenes). Generally, total volatile amounts decrease during maturation but toluene, the main compound, increased in all cultivars, particularly in those with higher susceptibility to olive fly. Sesquiterpenes also raised, mainly alpha-copaene. Toluene and alpha-copaene, recognized oviposition promoters to olive fly, were correlated with the infestation level of cvs. Madural and Verdeal Trasnmontana (intermediate and highly susceptible cultivars respectively), while no correlations were established with cv. Cobrancosa (less susceptible). No volatiles with inverse correlation were observed. Volatile composition of olives may be a decisive factor in the olive fly choice to oviposit and this could be the basis for the development of new control strategies for this pest.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15