Olfactometer-assessed responses of aphid Rhopalosiphum padi to wheat and oat volatiles

Abstract

Volatiles from wheat and oat seedlings elicited attraction in apterae and alatae Rhopalosiphum padi. Cereal volatiles were identified by GC-MS and olfactometric tests were performed with each compound. Attraction of aphids was elicited by (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, (Z)-3-hexenol, (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, (E)-2-hexenol, (Z)-2-hexenol, n-heptanal, n-octanal, n-nonanal, n-decanal, benzaldehyde, and linalool. The difference between the sensory capacity of alatae and apterae is discussed in relation to migrations between hosts during their life cycle.