Females and males of the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis induce different volatile profiles in maize. Consequences for a natural enemy

Abstract

We contrasted the induction of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in maize after the infestation by females and males of the specialist leafhopper Dalbulus maidis. In addition, we tested the behavioral response of the egg parasitoid Anagrus virlai to VOCs emitted by female-infested, male-infested and healthy plants. Plants induced by D. maidis females released significantly more VOCs than plants infested by males and healthy plants. αBergamotene, β-farnesene, β-caryophyllene and cis- 3-hexenyl acetate dominated the volatile blend in plants infested by females, however the last two compounds were absent in those plants infested by males, that had no oviposited eggs. Anagrus virlai wasps oriented toward VOCs from plants infested by females rather than those infested by males. β-Caryophyllene and cis- 3-hexenyl acetate could be key volatiles for wasps' host finding.