| Title: | 4-Vinylanisole is an aggregation pheromone in locusts |
| Author(s): | Guo X; Yu Q; Chen D; Wei J; Yang P; Yu J; Wang X; Kang L; |
| Address: | "State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. wangxh@ioz.ac.cn. CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. wangxh@ioz.ac.cn. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. lkang@ioz.ac.cn. CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. lkang@ioz.ac.cn. Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. lkang@ioz.ac.cn. College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, China. lkang@ioz.ac.cn" |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41586-020-2610-4 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1476-4687 (Electronic) 0028-0836 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Locust plagues threaten agricultural and environmental safety throughout the world(1,2). Aggregation pheromones have a crucial role in the transition of locusts from a solitary form to the devastating gregarious form and the formation of large-scale swarms(3,4). However, none of the candidate compounds reported(5-7) meet all the criteria for a locust aggregation pheromone. Here, using behavioural assays, electrophysiological recording, olfactory receptor characterization and field experiments, we demonstrate that 4-vinylanisole (4VA) (also known as 4-methoxystyrene) is an aggregation pheromone of the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria). Both gregarious and solitary locusts are strongly attracted to 4VA, regardless of age and sex. Although it is emitted specifically by gregarious locusts, 4VA production can be triggered by aggregation of four to five solitary locusts. It elicits responses specifically from basiconic sensilla on locust antennae. We also identified OR35 as a specific olfactory receptor of 4VA. Knockout of OR35 using CRISPR-Cas9 markedly reduced the electrophysiological responses of the antennae and impaired 4VA behavioural attractiveness. Finally, field trapping experiments verified the attractiveness of 4VA to experimental and wild populations. These findings identify a locust aggregation pheromone and provide insights for the development of novel control strategies for locusts" |
| Keywords: | "Aging Animal Migration/drug effects Animals Ecosystem Female Insect Control Locusta migratoria/chemistry/*drug effects/*physiology Male Pheromones/*metabolism/*pharmacology Population Density Receptors, Odorant/deficiency/genetics/metabolism Sensilla/phys;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineGuo, Xiaojiao Yu, Qiaoqiao Chen, Dafeng Wei, Jianing Yang, Pengcheng Yu, Jia Wang, Xianhui Kang, Le eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2020/08/14 Nature. 2020 Aug; 584(7822):584-588. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2610-4. Epub 2020 Aug 12" |
