Plant terpenes affect intensity and temporal parameters of pheromone detection in a moth

Party , Virginie
        INRA
        , Versailles .
         UMR 1272 Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication; Hanot , Christophe
        INRA
        , Versailles .
         UMR 1272 Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication; Said , Imene
        . Faculté des Sciences de Gafsa, Unité de Biochimie Macromoléculaire et Génétique; Rochat , Didier
        INRA
        , Versailles .
         UMR 1272 Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication; Renou , Michel
        INRA
        , Versailles .
         UMR 1272 Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication

Plant terpenes affect intensity and temporal parameters of pheromone detection in a moth

2009

Party , Virginie (INRA , Versailles (France). UMR 1272 Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication) | Hanot , Christophe (INRA , Versailles (France). UMR 1272 Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication) | Said , Imene (Université de Gafsa - Sidi Ahmed Zarroug, Gafsa(Tunisie). Faculté des Sciences de Gafsa, Unité de Biochimie Macromoléculaire et Génétique) | Rochat , Didier (INRA , Versailles (France). UMR 1272 Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication) | Renou , Michel (INRA , Versailles (France). UMR 1272 Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication)

In moths, the components of the female pheromone blend are detected in the male antennae by pheromone olfactory receptor neurons (Ph-ORNs) expressing narrowly tuned olfactory receptors. Responses to sex pheromones have generally been thought to be independent from the odorant background. However, interactions between pheromone components and plant volatiles have been reported at behavioral and detection levels. To document the mechanisms of such interactions, we analyzed Ph-ORN responses of Spodoptera littoralis to the main pheromone component, Z9E11-14:Ac, in the presence of 4 monoterpenes. To mimic natural contexts in which plant odors and pheromone emanate from different sources, the 2 stimuli were presented with different temporal patterns and from independent sources. Linalool reversibly reduced the firing response to Z9E11-14:Ac and produced an off effect. Geraniol and geranyl and linalyl acetates reduced the responses to Z9E11-14:Ac with a longer time course. Pulses of linalool over prolonged pheromone stimulation resulted in a discontinuous firing activity. Pulses of pheromone were better separated over a background of linalool, compared with odorless air. The data confirm that plant compounds may modulate the intensity and the temporal coding by Ph-ORNs of pheromone information. This modulation might positively affect mate location at high pheromone density especially nearby a pheromone source.

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