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. 2014 Aug 7;9(8):e103315.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103315. eCollection 2014.

Identification of the aggregation pheromone of the melon thrips, Thrips palmi

Sudhakar V S Akella  1 , William D J Kirk  1 , Yao-bin Lu  2 , Tamotsu Murai  3 , Keith F A Walters  4 , James G C Hamilton  1
Affiliations

Identification of the aggregation pheromone of the melon thrips, Thrips palmi

Sudhakar V S Akella et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the aggregation pheromone of the melon thrips Thrips palmi, a major pest of vegetable and ornamental plants around the world. The species causes damage both through feeding activities and as a vector of tospoviruses, and is a threat to world trade and European horticulture. Improved methods of detecting and controlling this species are needed and the identification of an aggregation pheromone will contribute to this requirement. Bioassays with a Y-tube olfactometer showed that virgin female T. palmi were attracted to the odour of live males, but not to that of live females, and that mixed-age adults of both sexes were attracted to the odour of live males, indicating the presence of a male-produced aggregation pheromone. Examination of the headspace volatiles of adult male T. palmi revealed only one compound that was not found in adult females. It was identified by comparison of its mass spectrum and chromatographic details with those of similar compounds. This compound had a structure like that of the previously identified male-produced aggregation pheromone of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. The compound was synthesised and tested in eggplant crops infested with T. palmi in Japan. Significantly greater numbers of both males and females were attracted to traps baited with the putative aggregation pheromone compared to unbaited traps. The aggregation pheromone of T. palmi is thus identified as (R)-lavandulyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate by spectroscopic, chromatographic and behavioural analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and have the following conflicts. Kirk and Hamilton are co-inventors on a patent owned by Keele University, “Method of monitoring and/or controlling thrips.” Priority date: 30 October 2013. International patent application published under the Patent Cooperation Treaty WO 2014/068303 <file://localhost/tel/2014%252F068303> Al. Geneva: World Intellectual Property Organization. The patent covers the aggregation pheromone studied in the paper. This does not alter the authors‘ adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. GC/MS analysis on a chiral column.
Confirmation of Thrips palmi aggregation pheromone as the (R) enantiomer by GC/MS analysis on a CycloSil-B analytical column: (A) section of the TIC chromatogram from 44 to 47 min showing the two partly resolved peaks obtained from racemic lavandulyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate; (B) the peak obtained on injection of the (R)-lavandulyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate enantiomer; (C) the peak obtained on injection of the (S)-lavandulyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate enantiomer; (D) the peak obtained on injection of the T. palmi natural compound; (E) the enhanced peak obtained on co-injection of the T. palmi natural compound and (R)-lavandulyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate.
Figure 2
Figure 2. EI mass spectra of the major terpenoid component and the synthetic (R)-lavandulyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate.
EI mass spectra (70 eV) of (A) the major terpenoid component (peak a) of the headspace volatiles of male Thrips palmi and (B) the mass spectrum of synthetic (R)-lavandulyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate. The inset shows the labelled structure of (R)-lavandulyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate.
Figure 3
Figure 3. GC/MS traces of SPME-collected headspace volatiles from Thrips palmi.
GC/MS total ion current (TIC) traces of SPME fibre collections of the headspace volatiles from mixed-age adult females (n = 40) (upper trace F), mixed-age adult males (n = 100) (middle trace M) and larvae (n = 40) (lower trace L) of Thrips palmi on a HP5MS column. The major male-specific compound at Rt = 17.65 min in the middle trace is indicated as peak a.
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References

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