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The significance of major pheromone components and interspecific signals as expressed by receptor neurons in the oriental tobacco budworm moth, Helicoverpa assulta

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Abstract

Receptor neuron specificities for intra- and interspecific chemical signals were determined in males of Helicoverpa assulta, by testing single neurons for twelve heliothine produced compounds and two chemical analogues. Three types of receptor neurons were identified in the male specific sensilla trichodea type 1.

  1. 1.

    One large group of neurons (29 out of 63) was tuned to the major pheromone component (Z)-9-hexadecenal, in contrast to results obtained previously in a related species, where the information from this compound seems to be mediated via neurons tuned to (Z)-9-tetradecenal.

  2. 2.

    Another group of neurons (28/63) was tuned to (Z)-9-tetradecenal which is not produced by the conspecific females. These neurons and those tuned to the major pheromone component, always appearing together, are probably located in the same sensillum. Their large number suggests that (Z)-9-tetradecenal mediates an important message in this species, probably causing interspecific interruption.

  3. 3.

    The third group of neurons (6/63) was tuned to the second principal pheromone component (Z)-11-hexadecenal. These neurons showed similar specificities as the corresponding type of neurons in related species, indicating a conservation of their membrane receptors through evolution. In contrast, the (Z)-9-tetradecenal receptor neurons in H. assulta showed a different specificity than their counterparts in the related species, suggesting that their receptor proteins have evolved differently.

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Abbreviations

Z9-16:AL :

(Z)-9-hexadecenal

Z11-16:AL :

(Z)-11-hexadecenal

Z9-14:AL :

(Z)-9-tetradecenal

Z7-16:AL :

(Z)-7-hexadecenal

16:AL :

hexadecanal

14:AL :

tetradecanal

Z9-16:AC :

(Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate

Z11-16:AC :

(Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate

Z7-16:AC :

(Z)-7-hexadecenyl acetate

16:AC :

hexadecanyl acetate

Z9-16:OH :

(Z)-9-hexadecenol

Z11-16:OH :

(Z)-11-hexadecenol

16:OH :

hexadecanol

Z9-14:FO :

(Z)-9-tetradecenyl formate

Z7-12:FO :

(Z)-7-dodecenyl formate

H :

assulta Helicoverpa assulta

H. :

virescens Heliothis virescens

H. :

zea Helicoverpa zea

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Trondheim-AVH, N-7055, Dragvoll, Norway

    B. G. Berg & H. Mustaparta

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  1. B. G. Berg
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  2. H. Mustaparta
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Berg, B.G., Mustaparta, H. The significance of major pheromone components and interspecific signals as expressed by receptor neurons in the oriental tobacco budworm moth, Helicoverpa assulta . J Comp Physiol A 177, 683–694 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00187627

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