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Variability in herbivore-induced defence signalling across different maize genotypes impacts significantly on natural enemy foraging behaviour

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Abstract

‘Smart’ plants that release volatile defence compounds in response to pest damage, and which recruit beneficial natural enemies, offer an opportunity for exploiting biological control in future crop protection strategies. Using six maize genotypes, Zapalote Chico (‘landrace’), Mirt2A, Sintético Spodoptera (SS), L3, and two commercial hybrids BRS 4103 and BRS 1040, the aim of this work was to evaluate maize responses to larval damage from the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, a major maize pest in Brazil, and the ability of the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus to respond to HIPVs induced by S. frugiperda damage. Y-tube olfactometer bioassays with T. remus showed preferential responses to the S. frugiperda-induced volatiles of SS and BRS 4103 compared to constitutive volatiles of the same genotypes, but to none of the other genotypes tested. Chemical analysis of maize volatile extracts showed that SS produced more volatile compounds in response to S. frugiperda damage, followed by BRS 4103. In addition, higher levels of mono, homo-, or sesquiterpenes, together with green leaf volatiles (GLVs) were the most attractive blend for T. remus; however, there was no attraction when only GLVs were produced in higher levels. In summary, these results show that volatile defence signalling produced by maize plants due to S. frugiperda damage varies significantly depending on maize genotype and this variability influences T. remus foraging behaviour.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Isabela Grisi, Sulian Gomes de Azevedo and Helio Moreira dos Santos for helping with laboratory rearing of the insects; Dr. Ivan Cruz for providing the egg parasitoid T. remus to establish our colony and the Post-Graduate Zoology Program of the University of Brasília (UnB) for use of their facility.

Funding

This work received financial support from the Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improving (CAPES) through a grant to MJH (88881.1317661/2014-01), the National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq), the Federal District Research Foundation (FAP-DF), and the Brazilian Corporation of Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA). The work at Rothamsted forms part of the Smart Crop Protection (SCP) strategic programme (BBS/OS/CP/000001) funded through Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

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Michereff, M.F.F., Magalhães, D.M., Hassemer, M.J. et al. Variability in herbivore-induced defence signalling across different maize genotypes impacts significantly on natural enemy foraging behaviour. J Pest Sci 92, 723–736 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-018-1033-6

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