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Effects of water stress on emission of volatile organic compounds by Vicia faba, and consequences for attraction of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis

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Abstract

When plants are damaged by herbivorous insects, blends of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are induced and released and can also be used by parasitoids to locate hosts. The aim was to determine whether VOCs induced by water stress affect the plant–herbivore–parasitoid system represented by broad bean (Vicia faba; Fabales: Fabaceae) stink bug (Nezara viridula; Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) egg parasitoid (Trissolcus basalis; Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). The effects of water stress (expressed as the percentage fraction of transpirable soil water [FTSW] supplied) alone and in combination with N. viridula damage (feeding plus oviposition) were determined according to: (1) the behavioural response of the egg parasitoid in a Y-tube olfactometer and (2) the plant VOCs collected and analysed by thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. With pot water capacity as FTSW100, water stress was applied as mild (FTSW80), moderate (FTSW50) and severe (FTSW10). Bioassays with plants under abiotic stress alone showed that egg parasitoids are more attracted by FTSW10 plants than by well-watered plants. When plants were under abiotic and biotic stress interactions, the egg parasitoids are more attracted by FTSW10 and FTSW50 plants than by well-watered plants infested with N. viridula. Considering VOCs emissions, projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) separated treatments according to egg parasitoid responses. Water stress alone and in combination with biotic stress induced changes in VOC emissions of V. faba plants that attract egg parasitoids. These findings contribute to our understanding of how water stress affects the interactions between plants, insect pests and egg parasitoids.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Andrea Lucchetti for rearing the insects. This study was supported by the project MIUR-PRIN 2010–2011 ‘Going to the root of plant productivity: how the rhizosphere interacts with the aboveground armament for indirect and direct defence against abiotic and biotic stressors (PRO-ROOT)’ and by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio Perugia (2015.0337.021 Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica). The authors thank Dr Chris Berrie for scientific language appraisal.

Funding

This study was funded by MIUR-PRIN 2010–2011 ‘Going to the root of plant productivity: how the rhizosphere interacts with the aboveground armament for indirect and direct defence against abiotic and biotic stressors (PRO-ROOT)’ and by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio Perugia (2015.0337.021 Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 06121, Perugia, Italy

    Gianandrea Salerno & Francesca Frati

  2. Trees and Timber Institute, The National Research Council of Italy, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

    Giovanni Marino & Mauro Centritto

  3. Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Luisa Ederli & Stefania Pasqualini

  4. Department of Biology, Agriculture and Food Sciences, The National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy

    Francesco Loreto

  5. Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Stefano Colazza

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  1. Gianandrea Salerno
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  2. Francesca Frati
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  3. Giovanni Marino
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  4. Luisa Ederli
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  7. Stefano Colazza
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Correspondence to Francesca Frati.

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Salerno, G., Frati, F., Marino, G. et al. Effects of water stress on emission of volatile organic compounds by Vicia faba, and consequences for attraction of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis . J Pest Sci 90, 635–647 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-016-0830-z

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