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Leaf Surface Wax Chemicals in Trichosanthes anguina (Cucurbitaceae) Cultivars Mediating Short-Range Attraction and Oviposition in Diaphania indica

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Abstract

Larval Diaphania indica (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) cause complete defoliation of Trichosanthes anguina L. and reduce crop yield in India. Females lay eggs on the leaf surface, and therefore leaf surface waxes are potentially involved in host selection. Alkanes and free fatty acids are the major constituents of leaf surface waxes, so a study was conducted to determine whether these wax constituents from three T. anguina cultivars (MNSR-1, Baruipur Long, and Polo No.1) could act as short-range attractants and oviposition stimulants in D. indica females. Twenty n-alkanes from n-C14 to n-C36 and 13 free fatty acids from C12:0 to C21:0 were detected in the leaf surface waxes of these cultivars. Heptadecane and stearic acid were predominant among n-alkanes and free fatty acids, respectively, in these cultivars. Females showed attraction towards one leaf equivalent surface wax of each of these cultivars against solvent controls (petroleum ether) in Y-tube olfactometer bioassays. A synthetic blend of heptadecane, eicosane, hexacosane, and stearic acid, a synthetic blend of hexacosane and stearic acid, and a synthetic blend of pentadecane and stearic acid comparable to amounts present in one leaf equivalent surface wax of MNSR-1, Baruipur Long, and Polo No.1, respectively, were short-range attractants and oviposition stimulants in D. indica. Female egg laying responses were similar to each of these blends, providing information that could be used to developing baited traps in integrated pest management (IPM) programs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank anonymous reviewers for many helpful suggestions of earlier versions of the manuscript. We thank Dr. M. Alma Solis, Research Entomologist, SEL, USDA, Smithsonian Institution, Washington for authenticating the insect. We also thank DST PURSE Phase-II for providing the necessary instrumental facilities.

Funding

The financial assistance from the UGC-JRF, New Delhi, Govt. of India to Rahul Debnath [F.No. 16-6(DEC. 2017)/2018(NET/CSIR)] is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713 104, West Bengal, India

    Rahul Debnath, Paroma Mitra, Swati Das & Anandamay Barik

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  1. Rahul Debnath
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  2. Paroma Mitra
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  3. Swati Das
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  4. Anandamay Barik
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Contributions

A.B. and R.D. designed experiments. R.D. and P.M. performed bioassays. R.D. and S.D. did chemical analyses. A.B. and R.D. analysed data. R.D. and P.M. made the Figs. A.B. wrote the manuscript. All authors edited the manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Anandamay Barik.

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Debnath, R., Mitra, P., Das, S. et al. Leaf Surface Wax Chemicals in Trichosanthes anguina (Cucurbitaceae) Cultivars Mediating Short-Range Attraction and Oviposition in Diaphania indica. J Chem Ecol 47, 664–679 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-021-01291-w

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