The selectivity of Frankliniella occidentalis for the color andvolatiles of four host plants
Author of the article:CAO Yu** LIU Yan WANG Chun XIONG Zheng-Li LI Can***
Author's Workplace：Key & Special Laboratory of Guizhou Education Department for Pest Control and Resource Utilization, College of Biology and Engineering of Environment, Guiyang University, Guiyang 550005, China
Key Words：Frankliniella occidentalis, host selectivity, color, volatiles, Y-tube olfactometer
Abstract： [Objectives] To explore the role of host color and volatiles on the host selectivity of Frankliniella occidentalis(Pergande). [Methods] The selectivity of F. occidentalis for the color and volatiles of four hosts, Cannaceae indica var. flava, Sophora xanthantha, Yucca gloriosa and Nerium indicum, was tested. Color choices were conducted by observation in petri-dishes and olfactory responses were measured in a Y-tube olfactometer. [Results] Of the four host plants tested, F. occidentalis preferred the leaf color of N. indicum, but preferred the flower color of S. xanthantha and C. indica var. flava. The general order of color preference was C. indica var. flava ( flower )、S. xanthantha ( flower ) > Y. gloriosa ( flower ) > C. indica var. flava ( leaf ), N. indicum ( leaf ) > S. xanthantha ( leaf ), Y. gloriosa ( leaf ), N. indicum ( flower ). In the olfaction tests, F. occidentalis preferred host leaves and flowers to clean air. With respect to host leaves, F. occidentalis mostly preferred C. indica var. flava and S. xanthantha, whereas with respect to host flowers it preferred to C. indica var. flava. F. occidentalis preferred flower volatiles of to leaf volatiles from any of 4 host plants. The general order of volatile preference was C. indica var. flava ( flower ) > S. xanthantha ( flower ) > Y. gloriosa ( flower ) > N. indicum ( flower ) > C. indica var. flava ( leaf )≥ S. xanthantha ( leaf )、N. indicum ( leaf ) > Y. gloriosa ( leaf ), which is not completely consistent with the order of color preference. [Conclusion] Host color and volatiles have significant influence in the selectivity of F. occidentalis. Not only did F. occidentalis have different preferences with respect to the color and volatiles of different hosts, but also to those of different host organs.