Diversity and sex differences in rectal gland volatiles of Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae)

PLoS One. 2022 Aug 24;17(8):e0273210. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273210. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Rectal gland volatiles are key mediators of sexual interactions in tephritid fruit flies. We used solid-phase microextraction (SPME) plus gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) to substantially expand rectal gland chemical characterisation of the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae); Qfly). The SPME GC-MS analysis identified 24 of the 30 compounds previously recorded from Qfly rectal glands, plus another 21 compounds that had not previously been reported. A few amides and fatty acid esters dominated the chromatograms of males and females respectively, but we also found other esters, alcohols and aldehydes and a ketone. The GC-FID analyses also revealed over 150 others, as yet unidentified, volatiles, generally in lesser amounts. The GC-FID analyses also showed 49 and 12 compounds were male- and female-specific, respectively, both in single sex (virgin) and mixed sex (mostly mated) groups. Another ten compounds were male-specific among virgins but undetected in mixed sex groups, and 29 were undetected in virgins but male-specific in mixed sex groups. The corresponding figures for females were four and zero, respectively. Most short retention time peaks (including a ketone and an ester) were male-specific, whereas most female-biased peaks (including five fatty acid esters) had long retention times. Our results indicate previously unsuspected diversity of rectal gland volatiles that might have pheromone functions in males, but far fewer in females.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fatty Acids
  • Female
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Ketones
  • Male
  • Salt Gland
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Tephritidae*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Ketones

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Fruit Fly Biosecurity Innovation (Project IC50100026), funded by the Australian Government, including a fellowship to S.J.P. and PhD scholarship to C.C-V. This research was also conducted as part of the SITplus collaborative fruit fly program. Project Raising Q-fly Sterile Insect Technique to World Standard (HG14033) is funded by the Hort Frontiers Fruit Fly Fund, part of the Hort Frontiers strategic partnership initiative developed by Hort Innovation, with co-investment from Macquarie University and contributions from the Australian Government. We also acknowledge CSIRO for its generous support of this project. Australian Research Council, https://www.arc.gov.au/ Hort Innovation, https://www.horticulture.com.au/ Macquarie University, https://www.mq.edu.au/ CSIRO, https://www.csiro.au/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.