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J Chem Ecol

Title:		Pathogen-induced release of plant allomone manipulates vector insect behavior
Author(s):		Mayer CJ; Vilcinskas A; Gross J;
Address:		"Institute for Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, 35392, Germany"
Journal Title:		J Chem Ecol
Year:		2008
Volume:		20081124
Issue:		12
Page Number:		1518 - 1522
DOI:		10.1007/s10886-008-9564-6
ISSN/ISBN:		0098-0331 (Print) 0098-0331 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Infochemicals mediate communication within and between different trophic levels. In this study, we identified a new type of plant allomone induced by a plant pathogen and perceived by its vector insect Cacopsylla picta. This phloem-feeding psyllid is the main vector of Candidatus Phytoplasma mali, a cell wall-lacking bacterium that causes the so-called apple proliferation disease. In a previous study, we showed that newly emerged females of C. picta were attracted by the odor of phytoplasma-infected apple plants (Malus domestica), which release ss-caryophyllene in contrast to uninfected plants. Here, the attractiveness of this sesquiterpene for C. picta was confirmed in both olfactometer bioassays and field studies. Synthetic ss-caryophyllene was highly attractive to newly emerged adults of C. picta both when offered simultaneously with healthy apple odor and without. The psyllid's response was independent of its odor experience and infection status. These results confirm our previously established hypothesis that this phytoplasma manipulates the behavior of its vector insect by changing the odor blend of its host plant. Deployed in apple orchards, sticky traps baited with ss-caryophyllene dispensers caught both males and females of C. picta. Consequently, this new type of infochemical, i.e., a phytopathogen-induced plant allomone, represents a promising compound to develop innovative techniques for monitoring or maybe even mass trapping of C. picta"
Keywords:		"Acholeplasmataceae/*physiology Animals Behavior, Animal/*drug effects Biological Assay Female Follow-Up Studies Hemiptera/growth & development/*physiology Host-Pathogen Interactions Insect Vectors/growth & development/*physiology Malus/*metabolism/*microb;"
Notes:		"MedlineMayer, Christoph J Vilcinskas, Andreas Gross, Jurgen eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2008/11/26 J Chem Ecol. 2008 Dec; 34(12):1518-22. doi: 10.1007/s10886-008-9564-6. Epub 2008 Nov 24"