Differential Responses of the Egg-Larval Parasitoid Chelonus Bifoveolatus To Fall Armyworm-Induced and Constitutive Volatiles of Diverse Maize Genotypes

Onjura, Collins O.; Peter, Emmanuel; Asudi, George O.; Gicheru, Michael M.; Mohamed, Samira A.; Bruce, Toby J. A.; Tamiru, Amanuel

Abstract

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious invasive crop pest and threat to food security. Conventional pest control approaches using chemical pesticides can lead to adverse environmental and human health problems calling for safer alternative pest management options. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by plants constitutively and in response to herbivory have been shown to enhance ecologically benign biocontrol alternatives to chemical insecticides for pest management. However, genotypic variations in VOC emissions have also been reported for plant species including maize (Zea mays). Hence, a better insight into the variations in odor profiles of different maize varieties and their corresponding role in recruiting pests’ natural enemies are crucial for developing a sustainable biocontrol strategy. Our present study assessed the behavioral responses of the FAW egg-larval parasitoid, Chelonus bifoveolatus (Braconidae: Hymenoptera), to constitutive and induced volatiles from different maize landraces (Jowi Red, Nyamula) and hybrids (SC Duma, DK 777) grown in Kenya and compared their volatile profiles. In a four-arm olfactometer, female parasitoid wasps were significantly attracted to FAW oviposition-induced VOCs from SC Duma and Nyamula. Chemical analysis of test plant volatiles revealed significant variation in the quantity and quality of key bioactive VOCs such as (E)-2-hexenal, α-pinene, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, α-copaene, (E)-β-farnesene and (E, E)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene. Our findings provide more insights into genetic variation in VOCs emission across maize genotypes and the corresponding differences in attraction of pest natural enemies that provide indirect defense. As such, these traits could be exploited to enhance ecologically sustainable pest management strategies.

Citation

Onjura, C. O., Peter, E., Asudi, G. O., Gicheru, M. M., Mohamed, S. A., Bruce, T. J. A., & Tamiru, A. (in press). Differential Responses of the Egg-Larval Parasitoid Chelonus Bifoveolatus To Fall Armyworm-Induced and Constitutive Volatiles of Diverse Maize Genotypes. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 51(2), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-025-01585-3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 22, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Mar 12, 2025
• Deposit Date: Mar 19, 2025
• Journal: Journal of Chemical Ecology
• Print ISSN: 0098-0331
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-1561
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: 34
• Pages: 1-14
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-025-01585-3
• Keywords: Spodoptera frugiperda, Chelonus bifoveolatus, Behavioural response, Plant volatiles, Maize genotypes, Pest management
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1107102