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Leaf surface compound fromBrassica oleracea (Cruciferae) induces oviposition byPieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

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Summary

Chemicals present on the surface of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) leaves were extracted by dipping these leaves for 3 s in dichloromethane followed by a 3 s dip in methanol. When offered in dual choice bioassays using green paper cards as a substrate, the methanol extract stimulated oviposition activity byPieris brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) females. The oviposition stimulant was isolated using medium pressure liquid chromatography, reversed-phase HPLC, ion-pair HPLC and ion exchange chromatography. Using1H-NMR spectroscopy, the stimulant could be identified as glucobrassicin (3-indolyl-methyl-glucosinolate). When pure glucobrassicin was offered at a dose identical to that in the crude methanol extract, butterflies did not discriminate between these two substrates in a dual choice test. It is argued that a high sensitivity for indole glucosinolates as host recognition factors may confer an adaptive value for these specialist crucifer feeders. The nutritional significance of their precursor tryptophan and the non-volatile nature of the aglycones formed upon enzymic hydrolysis in damaged tissues are proposed as properties of indole glucosinolates that contribute to this possible adaptive advantage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Wageningen Agricultural University, P.O. Box 8031, NL-6700 EH, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Joop J. A. van Loon, Frans C. Griepink & Louis M. Schoonhoven

  2. Phytochemical Section, Department of Organic Chemistry, Wageningen Agricultural University, Dreijenplein 8, NL-6703 HB, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Anton Blaakmeer, Teris A. van Beek & Aede de Groot

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  1. Joop J. A. van Loon
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  2. Anton Blaakmeer
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  3. Frans C. Griepink
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  4. Teris A. van Beek
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  5. Louis M. Schoonhoven
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  6. Aede de Groot
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van Loon, J.J.A., Blaakmeer, A., Griepink, F.C. et al. Leaf surface compound fromBrassica oleracea (Cruciferae) induces oviposition byPieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Chemoecology 3, 39–44 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01261455

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01261455

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