Electrophysiological studies and identification of possible sex pheromone components of Brazilian populations of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis

Z Naturforsch C J Biosci. 2002 Jul-Aug;57(7-8):753-8. doi: 10.1515/znc-2002-7-833.

Abstract

Virgin female gland extracts of sugarcane moth Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), from three locations in Brazil, have been analyzed. By GC-MS analysis and comparison of the chromatographic retention time of the components of the pheromone gland with those retention times of synthetic standards, we observed the presence of (Z)-hexadec-11-enal (1), hexadecanal (2), (9E,11Z)-hexadecadienal (4), (9Z,11Z)-hexadecadienal (5) and (9E,11E)-hexadecadienal (6), as minor components besides the major constituent (9Z,11E)-hexadecadienal (3) already reported. We found no variations in the composition of the gland extracts deriving from the three Brazilian populations and only two compounds, (Z)-hexadec-11-enal (1) and (9Z,11E)-hexadecadienal (3), elicited antennal responses (GC-EAD). In electroantennography (EAG), however, pure compounds 1 and 3, a binary mixture containing 1 and 3, and a mixture containing all of the six synthetic compounds 1-6 elicited a depolarization in male antennae of D. saccharalis, without any statistically different delay. The EAG responses to the other isomers of 9,11-hexadecadienal were small and not significantly different from the control, except for the (9Z,11Z)-isomer (5) which showed an relatively strong electroantennal activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Female
  • Lepidoptera / physiology*
  • Male
  • Sex Attractants / chemistry*
  • Sex Attractants / isolation & purification
  • Sex Attractants / physiology

Substances

  • Sex Attractants