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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #373179
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Mitigation of the Invasive Pest Threat from the American Tropics and Subtropics

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Evaluation of 29 natural and synthetic aromatic compounds provides insight into structure-function relationships of attractants for Mediterranean fruit fly

Author
item Tabanca, Nurhayat
item EPSKY, NANCY - Retired ARS Employee
item Kendra, Paul
item NIOGRET, JEROME - Niogret Ecology Consulting
item Gill, Micah
item Montgomery, Wayne
item MASI, MARCO - University Of Naples
item NOCERA, PAOLA - University Of Naples
item CIMMINO, ALESSIO - University Of Naples
item EVIDENTE, ANTONIO - University Of Naples

Submitted to: International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/8/2021
Publication Date: 12/16/2021
Citation: Tabanca, N., N. D. Epsky, P.E. Kendra, J. Niogret, M. Gill, W. S. Montgomery, M. Masi, P. Nocera, A. Cimmino, A. Evidente. 2021. Evaluation of 29 natural and synthetic aromatic compounds provides insight into structure-function relationships of attractants for Mediterranean fruit fly. The 2021 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies. (Virtual). 16-21 December 2021.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the world’s most destructive pests of fruits and vegetables, with over 300 known hosts. As a result, much research has focused on identification of attractants for early detection and suppression of this pest. In this laboratory study, we evaluated a series of 29 naturally occurring plant and fungal aromatic compounds and related synthetic analogs to determine relative attraction of sterile male C. capitata. First, each chemical was tested separately in short-range no-choice bioassays. This initial screening identified four potential new attractants: phenyllactic acid, estragole, o-eugenol, and 2-allylphenol. Second, the four chemicals were tested in binary-choice bioassays (all possible combinations); o-eugenol was the most attractive and estragole the least attractive. Third, electroantennography (EAG) was used to quantify antennal olfactory responses to the individual compounds, and the strongest EAG responses were elicited by 1-allyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene, estragole, 4-allyltoluene, trans-anethole, o-eugenol, and 2-allylphenol. The combined results suggest that presence of the allyl residue and substituents on the aromatic ring are key structural features that confer attraction of male C. capitata. Additional studies are needed to determine if these compounds, alone and in combination, are attractive to field populations, including female C. capitata.