Pea odorants guide host finding behaviour in pea moth: a new strategy for sustainable insect management

• Applicant: Dr. Gunda Thöming
• Subject Area: Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology
• Term: from 2009 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 117370674

The pea moth Cydia nigricana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is the key pest of pea Pisum sativum. Environmentally safe pest control techniques need to be developed since few insecticides are available for efficient control. First studies demonstrate a strong correlation between the seasonal flight period of C. nigricana and the phenology of pea. We propose to study the olfactory space between pea plant and pea moth, aiming at the identification of the volatile cues that encode host recognition and host finding in pea moth females, and the practical use of these compounds for safe management of pea moth. Communication between insect and plant regarding host finding, mating and egg laying will be investigated. The identification of behaviourally active host plant signals will enable the development of an effective method for direct pea moth control. In addition, the characterisation of temporal and physiological variation in pea plant volatile emission will be studied to evaluate the potential of breeding pea for resistance to insect herbivores. The expected output is improved knowledge of chemical communication between the pea moth and its host plant, as well as insights into the linkage between the biochemistry of the pea secondary metabolites and pea moth biology and ecology. The potential use of pea plant volatiles for direct and indirect pea moth management will be evaluated.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Norway, Sweden
• Host: Professor Dr. Peter Witzgall