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Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings from antennae of male Cydia strobilella in a control plot (Ctrl) and a pheromone-treated plot (MD) in Maltesholm in 2010. In each plot, recordings were performed at 2 and 4 m height and experiments were performed when rubber disruption dispensers were present at 4 m height (a), and 6 days after dispensers had been removed (b). Five antennae were used in each experiment. Bars with different letters indicate significantly different responses (repeated-measures ANOVA; P < 0.05)
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Seed orchards function as the primary source of high-quality seeds for reforestation in many European countries, but their seed yields can be severely reduced due to seed- and cone-feeding insects. We evaluated various parameters of pheromone-based mating disruption for control of the moths Cydia strobilella and Dioryctria abietella, which are majo...
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The bark beetle Polygraphus punctifrons (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a species that feeds on Norway spruce (Picea abies) and is found in the Northern parts of Europe and Russia. The release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by males and females of P. punctifrons when the beetles bore into spruce stem sections in a laboratory environme...
Citations
... Although a strong reduction in the trap catch can be achieved at the height where the dispensers were placed, males may still find calling females further up in the trees if the pheromone does not disperse well enough to such heights. It is known that for the moth species infesting tall-growing trees, the capture of males can be higher in traps placed high up in the trees; therefore the efficacy of mating disruption could potentially reduce if the dispensers are placed at low heights [28]. In order to reduce the difference in the efficacy between MCI and MD, deploying the MD dispenser at a higher height would be needed. ...
... The mated females may migrate from adjacent untreated areas with different host plants into the MD-treated area, resulting in a moderate level of control efficacy despite the stronger MCI effect observed within the MD-treated area. Similarly, Svensson et al. (2018) suggested that a dramatic decrease in the trap catch did not correspond to a subsequent reduction in cone damage [28]. ...
... The mated females may migrate from adjacent untreated areas with different host plants into the MD-treated area, resulting in a moderate level of control efficacy despite the stronger MCI effect observed within the MD-treated area. Similarly, Svensson et al. (2018) suggested that a dramatic decrease in the trap catch did not correspond to a subsequent reduction in cone damage [28]. ...
Chestnuts (Castanea crenata Siebold and Zucc.) are one of the major agroforestry products in Korea, and Conogethes punctiferalis is a major pest of the chestnut fruit. Pheromone-based mating disruption (MD) has emerged as a promising eco-friendly approach to reduce population levels and ultimately mitigate fruit damage. Field trials were conducted over two years (2022–2023) in two commercial chestnut orchards in Central Korea that were infested with C. punctiferalis. Compared with the control treatment, the MD treatment effectively reduced the number of male C. punctiferalis captured in the MD treatment plots. Male catch inhibition (MCI) rates ranged from 70.5% to 82.7% in 2022 and from 87.8% to 95.1% in 2023. The MD efficacy (%) was calculated based on the total number of chestnut fruits collected and the number of fruits damaged by C. punctiferalis. In 2022, the MD efficacy of the single-dosage treatment (TS, 50 g/ha) was 63.9% in Orchard A and 73.6% in Orchard B. In 2023, the MD efficacies of the double-dosage treatment (TD, 100 g/ha) and the two-application treatment (TT, 50 g/ha in June and August) were 60.2% and 77.9% in Orchard A and 50.9% and 64.8% in Orchard B, respectively. This study confirms the efficacy of pheromone-based MD in reducing the C. punctiferalis numbers in chestnut orchards and damage to chestnut fruits.
... Due to a feeding preference of its larvae on cones and young shoots of coniferous trees, this insect belongs to a typical boring pest. In China, to date D. abietella have been recorded in over ten cities, and have become a major destroyer for the Pinaceae plants (Song et al., 2020;Svensson et al., 2018). As is well known, the monitoring and management of forest pests favor the environmentally-friendly control strategies, such as an attractant-based approach that is an alternative to efficiently keep the pest population below an economic threshold. ...
... In this study, we characterized two olfactory proteins highly expressed in the antennae, revealing different odorant binding spectra and interaction mechanisms of DabiOBP4 and DabiOBP17. As indicated in D. abietella, sex pheromone-based traps and mating disruption have been applied to control the pest (Löfstedt et al., 2012;Svensson et al., 2018). Herein, the compounds strongly interacting with the two DabiOBPs will be good candidate components for enhancing the attraction of pheromone traps or designing additional behavioral modulators. ...
In the forest ecosystem dominated by the Pinaceae plants, this boring pest Dioryctria abietella is subject to a variety of odorants derived from host and nonhost plants, in which olfactory-related proteins enriched in antennae are key behavioral modulators for the orientation of feeding and ovipositing hosts. Here, we addressed the odorant binding protein (OBP) gene family in D. abietella. Expression profiles revealed that the majority of OBPs were abundantly expressed in the antennae at a female-biased level. A male-antenna-biased DabiPBP1 was a strong candidate for detecting type I and type II pheromones. Using a prokaryotic expression system combined with affinity chromatography, we harvested two antenna-dominant DabiOBPs. In the ligand-binding assays, the two DabiOBPs exhibited different odorant response spectra, as DabiOBP17 was tuned to most odorants with higher affinities compared to DabiOBP4. Of these, DabiOBP4 could strongly bind syringaldehyde and citral (dissociation constants (Ki) < 14 μM). A floral volatile, benzyl benzoate (Ki = 4.72 ± 0.20 μM), was the best ligand for DabiOBP17. Remarkably, several green leaf volatiles were found to strongly interact with DabiOBP17 (Ki < 8.5 μM), including Z3-hexenyl acetate, E2-hexenol, Z2-hexenal and E2-hexenal that may mediate a repellent response to D. abietella. Structural analyses of ligands revealed that the binding of DabiOBPs to odorants was associated with carbon-chain lengths and functional groups. Molecular simulations identified several key residues involved in the interactions of DabiOBPs and ligands, suggesting specific binding mechanisms. This study highlights olfactory roles of two antennal DabiOBPs in D. abietella, helping the identification of potentially behavioral compounds for the population control of this pest.
... Insect OBPs have been documented to serve multiple functions, but, to date, they are still regarded as one of the main carriers of hydrophobic odorant molecules, particularly for those that are highly or specifically expressed in the antennae [27]. As a forest pest whose larvae feed on the cones and seeds of Pinaceae plants, the management of D. abietella has received increasing attention in recent years, particularly in Europe and China [3,28]. To efficiently control this pest, some attractants (including sex pheromones) and repellents have been identified and tested in the laboratory and in seed orchards [4,14]. ...
The management of forest pests has become a significant challenge, particularly for wood borers, because they spend most of the time in the trunks or cones. The coneworm, Dioryctria abietella, is a representative of cone borers as its larvae feed on the cones of Pinaceae plants. The molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between this species and host plants or habitats can assist in developing strategies for pest control. In this study, we extended the expression profiles of 32 odorant binding proteins (OBPs) in the reproductive tissues of D. abietella, revealing the detectable transcription of 29 genes. Using two DabiOBPs highly expressed in antennae (DabiOBP5 and DabiOBP14) as targets, six compounds with high affinities (dissociation constants < 13 μM) were identified through a reverse chemical ecology strategy, including insecticides widely used for the control of lepidopteran pests. Of these compounds, a floral volatile β-ionone and a pear-produced ester ethyl-(2E,4Z)-decadienoate may serve as behaviorally active compounds in D. abietella. The strong binding of DabiOBPs to insecticides suggested their involvement in insecticide resistance, reflecting sophisticated detoxification mechanisms of this moth. In the molecular simulations, DabiOBP14 possessed stronger interactions with the six ligands compared to DabiOBP5, in which a few key residues within the binding pockets were involved in the formation of hydrogen bonds. This study provides some valuable reference active compounds for the development of lures or repellents in D. abietella and unravels the putative roles of two antenna-dominant DabiOBPs in the perception of plant-derived odorants and insecticides.
... In the present study, we conducted trials at a larger scale (4 ha/plot), aiming at the validation of these parameters. The values of both parameters -pheromone dose and SPLAT point source density, per ha-are within the ranges reported for other tortricids using the same matrix for MD purposes [37,38]. The trap shutdown in all MD plots in our trials was also observed in other studies conducted to develop mating disruption against different tortricids [39,40]. ...
The leafroller Proeulia auraria (Clarke) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a native, polyphagous, and growing pest of several fruit crops in Chile; it also has quarantine importance to several markets, thus tools for management are needed. Using synthetic pheromone compounds, we conducted field trials to optimize the blend for monitoring, and to determine the activity period of rubber septa aged under field conditions. We concluded that septa loaded with 200 μg of E11-14:OAc + 60 μg E11-14:OH allowed for efficient trap captures for up to 10 weeks. Using this blend, we studied the phenology of adult males in vineyards, apple, and blueberry orchards, identifying two long flight cycles per season, lasting from September to May and suggesting 2–3 generations during the season. No or low adult activity was observed during January and between late May and late August. Furthermore, mating disruption (MD) field trials showed that application of 250 pheromone point sources using the dispenser wax matrix SPLAT (Specialized Pheromone and Lure Application Technology, 10.5% pheromone) with a total of 78 g/ha of the blend described above resulted in trap shutdown immediately after application, and mating disruption >99% in all orchards for at least 5 months. We concluded that MD is feasible for P. auraria, needing now the development of a commercial product and the strategy (and protocols) necessary to control this pest in conventional and organic orchards in Chile. As far as we know, this is the first report on MD development against a South American tortricid pest.
... e control variable u 1 (t) is then defined as the proportion of the larval population that green insecticide is applied to at time t. e release of synthetic sex pheromones increases the size of the fake female (Y f ) population which then indirectly reduces mating success rate. e effectiveness of mating disruption is specified by the amounts of active component in addition to the type of dispensers and the frequency of spraying [50]. We define by u 2 (t) the proportion of the maximum number of fake females released at time t. e third control is the plant removal and its side-work such as burning and burying which also require considerable labour and resources for collection, identification, and analysis. ...
Pest and plant diseases cause damages and economic losses, threatening food security and ecosystem services. Thus, proper pest management is indispensable to mitigate the risk of losses. The risk of environmental hazards induced by toxic chemicals alongside the rapid development of chemical resistance by insects entails more resilient, sustainable, and ecologically sound approaches to chemical methods of control. This study evaluates the application of three dynamical measures of controls, namely, green insecticide, mating disruption, and the removal of infected plants, in controlling pest insects. A model was built to describe the interaction between plants and insects as well as the circulation of the pathogen. Optimal control measures are sought in such a way they maximize the healthy plant density jointly with the pests’ density under the lowest possible control efforts. Our simulation study shows that all strategies succeed in controlling the insects. However, a cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that a strategy with two measures of green insecticide and plant removal is the most cost-effective, followed by one which applies all control measures. The best strategy projects the decrease of potential loss from 65.36% to 6.12%.
... This is expected since mating disruption is an indirect intervention to decrease the larva population and the same conclusion also mentioned in [8] and [9]. The efficacy of mating disruption depends on the specific species of insect that we are dealing with, the amount of active substance, type of dispenser, and the frequency of application [44]. Therefore, when using mating disruption, it is suggested to apply other complementing control measures such as the application of BAH insecticide which kills larva directly. ...
Pest insect is one of the major pests that cause damage and loss in agriculture around the world. This threat also comes with other complex problems such as environmental hazards by the indiscriminate pesticide and the rapid development of insects due to the environmental change. Therefore, more environmentally friendly and sustainable control methods need to be implemented. This paper discusses a generic model to describe plant-insect interaction and focuses on the interaction between non-vector pest insect and plant. The model consists of a set of non-linear ordinary differential equations representing insect-plant predator-prey interaction with the addition of two controls, namely green insecticide and mating disruption. An optimal control approach was exploited to solve the control problem and find a set of control strategies that regulate the system optimally. The simulations were conducted for three strategies and four scenarios describing possibilities in the real-world application. Our results suggest that all strategies managed to prevent agriculture loss. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to examine the cost and benefit of applying each strategy.
... Many conventional breeding processes for P. koraiensis, including superior provenance and family and clonal selection, are based on seed orchards. As the main means of forest tree seed production, seed orchards can improve the genetic gain of forest trees' growth and improve the genetic quality of seeds, which is of great significance to forest tree germplasm innovation [39,40]. ...
Pinus koraiensis (Sieb.et Zucc) is an economically and ecologically important tree species, naturally distributed in northeastern China. Conservation efforts and genetic improvement for this species began in the 1960s and 1980s, with the establishment of several primary seed orchards based on range-wide provenance evaluations. The original breeding objective was to improve growth and wood yield, but during the recent decade, it was redefined to include other traits, such as an enhancement of wood properties, seed oil content, cone yield, and the development of elite provenance with families, clones, and varieties with good tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, improvement processes are slow due to a long breeding cycle, and the number of improved varieties is still low. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the selective improvement of P. koraiensis varieties, such as elite provenance, family, and clones, using various breeding procedures. We collate information on advances in the improvement of P. koraiensis, based on conventional breeding and molecular marker-assisted breeding methods; identify gaps in our understanding of the tree improvement processes; and propose future research directions, which will provide new insight for subsequent genetic breeding research on P. koraiensis.
Semiochemicals such as pheromones play a major role in communication between insects, influencing their spatial orientation, aggregation, defense, and mating. The rational chemical design of precision pheromone‐releasing materials are increased the efficiency of pheromone‐based plant protection agents. Decades of research is begun to unravel the complex communication structures regulated by semiochemicals, from the neuronal perception of specific chemical substances to the behavioral responses in hundreds of species, including many devastating pest insects. This article summarizes the most effective uses of semiochemicals in agriculture, the behavioral responses of selected target species, and controlled‐release strategies based on formulations such as novel fibrous polymer carriers. This study helps scientists, decision‐makers, farmers, and the public understand the importance of appropriate mating disruption techniques that reduce the need for broad‐spectrum insecticides and limit their impact on non‐target and beneficial insects.
In this study, we aim to uncover diet preferences for the insectivorous bat Nyctalus leisleri (Leisler's bat, the lesser noctule) and to provide recommendations for conservation of the species, based on the analysis of prey source habitats. Using a novel guano trap, we sampled bat faeces at selected roosts in a forest in Germany and tested two mitochondrial markers (COI and 16S) and three primer pairs for the metabarcoding of bat faecal pellets.
We found a total of 17 arthropod prey orders comprising 358 species in N. leisleri guano. The most diverse orders were Lepidoptera (126 species), Diptera (86 species) and Coleoptera (48 species), followed by Hemiptera (28 species), Trichoptera (16 species), Neuroptera (15 species) and Ephemeroptera (10 species), with Lepidoptera species dominating in spring and Diptera in summer. Based on the ecological requirements of the most abundant arthropod species found in the bat guano, we propose some recommendations for the conservation of N. leisleri that are relevant for other insectivorous bat species.
