Glucosinolate genetics and the attraction of the aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae to Brassica

The control of insect pests using parasitoids and carnivores has been successfully applied in protected cropping systems, orchards and forestry. Their success in annual field crops has been more limited due largely to the difficulties of attracting and maintaining a sufficient density of parasitoids in the crop before the levels of the insect herbivores become economically damaging. Parasitoids are known to be attracted to host‐plant volatiles; thus, manipulating the host‐plant chemistry may provide a means of enhancing the attraction of parasitoids to their prey. In this study we describe the differential attraction of the braconid wasp Diaeretiella rapae to two near‐isogenic lines of Brassica oleracea which differ in a gene which alters the chemical structure of the isothiocyanates which are emitted following tissue damage. We demonstrate that, by enhancing the production of but‐3‐enyl isothiocyanate in B. oleracea and Brassica napus (oilseed rape), we can increase the attraction of D. rapae to these plants under standard field conditions.

[1]  T. Paine,et al.  Effect of experience on in‐flight orientation to host‐associated cues in the generalist parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes , 1993 .

[2]  T. Vaughn,et al.  Behavioral and physiological responses of Diaeretiella rapae to semiochemicals , 1996 .

[3]  R. Mithen,et al.  Divergent selection for secondary metabolites between wild populations of Brassica oleracea and its implications for plant-herbivore interactions , 1995, Heredity.

[4]  W. J. Lewis,et al.  Extrafloral Nectar, Honeydew, and Sucrose Effects on Searching Behavior and Efficiency of Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Cotton , 1997 .

[5]  J. H. Tumlinson,et al.  Herbivore-infested plants selectively attract parasitoids , 1998, Nature.

[6]  R. Mithen,et al.  The Inheritance of Aliphatic Glucosinolates in Brassica napus , 1993 .

[7]  F. S. Chew.  Biological effects of glucosinolates , 1989 .

[8]  C. Lister,et al.  Genetics of aliphatic glucosinolates. III. Side chain structure of aliphatic glucosinolates in Arabidopsis thaliana , 1995, Heredity.

[9]  H. Williams,et al.  Wind tunnel flight responses by hymenopterous parasitoid Campoletis sonorensis to cotton cultivars and lines , 1986 .

[10]  H. Emden,et al.  Hopkins' ‘host selection principle’, another nail in its coffin , 1996 .

[11]  Oral Roberts Universi.  OLFACTORY RESPONSES OF THE PARASITOID Diaeretiella rapae (HYMENOPTERA" APHIDIIDAE) TO ODOR OF PLANTS, APHIDS, AND PLANT-APHID COMPLEXES H.C. REED, I* S.H. TAN, i K. HAAPANEN, I M. KILLMON, I D.K REED, 2 and N.C. ELLIOTT 2 , 1995 .

[12]  John H. Loughrin,et al.  How caterpillar-damaged plants protect themselves by attracting parasitic wasps. , 1995, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[13]  G. Williamson,et al.  Selective increase of the potential anticarcinogen 4-methylsulphinylbutyl glucosinolate in broccoli. , 1998, Carcinogenesis.

[14]  D. O. Hebb,et al.  The role of experience , 1961 .

[15]  A. Giamoustaris.  Glucosinolates in Brassica and their role in mediating pest and pathogen interactions. , 1995 .

[16]  John H. Loughrin,et al.  Diurnal cycle of emission of induced volatile terpenoids by herbivore-injured cotton plant. , 1994, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[17]  A. Agrawal,et al.  Induced responses to herbivory and increased plant performance , 1998, Science.

[18]  Ted C. J. Turlings,et al.  An Elicitor of Plant Volatiles from Beet Armyworm Oral Secretion , 1997 .

[19]  G. Poppy,et al.  Strategies Involved in the Location of Hosts by the ParasitoidAphidius erviHaliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) , 1998 .

[20]  T. Turlings,et al.  Timing of induced volatile emissions in maize seedlings , 1998, Planta.

[21]  J. H. Tumlinson,et al.  Volatile Semiochemicals Released from Undamaged Cotton Leaves (A Systemic Response of Living Plants to Caterpillar Damage) , 1996, Plant physiology.

[22]  Y. Ayal.  The foraging strategy of Diaeretiella rapae. I. The concept of the elementary unit of foraging. , 1987 .

[23]  J. Raney,et al.  GENETIC CONTROL OF 2-PROPENYL AND 3-BUTENYL GLUCOSINOLATE SYNTHESIS IN MUSTARD , 1990 .

[24]  R. Mithen,et al.  Winter oilseed rape with high levels of resistance to Pyrenopeziza brassicae derived from wild Brassica species , 1999 .

[25]  J. Visser.  Host Odor Perception in Phytophagous Insects , 1986 .

[26]  R. Mithen,et al.  Genetics of aliphatic glucosinolates. II. Hydroxylation of alkenyl glucosinolates in Brassica napus , 1994, Heredity.

[27]  H. Emden,et al.  Falling aphids enhance impact of biological control by parasitoids on partially aphid-resistant plant varieties , 1994 .

[28]  Richard Karban,et al.  Induced Responses to Herbivory , 1997 .

[29]  M. Mackauer,et al.  REPRODUCTION AND LONGEVITY OF CABBAGE APHID, BREVICORYNE BRASSICAE (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE), PARASITIZED BY DIAERETIELLA RAPAE (HYMENOPTERA: APHIDIIDAE) , 1984, The Canadian Entomologist.

[30]  M. Dicke,et al.  Ecology of infochemical use by natural enemies in a tritrophic context. , 1992 .