Enantiospecific effect of pulegone and pulegone-derived lactones on Myzus persicae (Sulz.) settling and feeding

J Chem Ecol. 2008 Apr;34(4):530-8. doi: 10.1007/s10886-008-9448-9. Epub 2008 Mar 14.

Abstract

The effect of pulegone chiral center configuration on its antifeedant activity to Myzus persicae was examined. Biological consequences of structural modifications of (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-)-pulegone, the lactonization, iodolactonization, and incorporation of hydroxyl and carbonyl groups were studied, as well. The most active compounds were (R)-(+)-pulegone (1a) and delta-hydroxy-gamma-spirolactones (5S,6R,8S)-(-)-6-hydroxy-4,4,8-trimethyl-1-oxaspiro[4.5]decan-2-one (5b) and (5R,6S,8S)-6-hydroxy-4,4,8-trimethyl-1-oxaspiro[4.5]decan-2-one (6b) derived from (S)-(-)-pulegone (1b). The compounds deterred aphid probing and feeding at preingestional, ingestional, and postingestional phases of feeding. The preingestional effect of (R)-(+)-pulegone (1a) was manifested as difficulty in finding and reaching the phloem (i.e., prolonged time preceding the first contact with phloem vessels), a high proportion of probes not reaching beyond the mesophyll layer before first phloem phase, and/or failure to find sieve elements by 20% of aphids during the 8-hr experiment. The ingestional activity of (R)-(+)-pulegone (1a) and hydroxylactones 5b and 6b resulted in a decrease in duration of phloem sap ingestion, a decrease in the proportion of aphids with sustained sap ingestion, and an increase in the proportion of aphid salivation in phloem. delta-Keto-gamma-spirolactone (5R,8S)-(-)-4,4,8-trimethyl-1-oxaspiro[4.5]decan-2,6-dione (8b) produced a weak ingestional effect (shortened phloem phase). The postingestional deterrence of (R)-(+)-pulegone (1a) and delta-hydroxy-gamma-spirolactones (5R,6S,8R)-(+)-6-hydroxy-4,4,8-trimethyl-1-oxaspiro[4.5]-decan-2-one (5a), 5b, (5S,6R,8R)-6-hydroxy-4,4,8-trimethyl-1-oxaspiro[4.5]decan-2-one (6a), 6b, and delta-keto-gamma-spirolactone 8b prevented aphids from settling on treated leaves. The trans position of methyl group CH3-8 and the bond C5-O1 in lactone 6b appeared to weaken the deterrent activity in relation to the cis diastereoisomer (5b).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aphids / drug effects*
  • Aphids / physiology
  • Cyclohexane Monoterpenes
  • Feeding Behavior / drug effects*
  • Lactones / chemistry
  • Lactones / pharmacology*
  • Monoterpenes / chemistry
  • Monoterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Cyclohexane Monoterpenes
  • Lactones
  • Monoterpenes
  • pulegone