Chemical Identity and Functional Characterization of Semiochemicals That Promote the Interactions between Rice Plant and Rice Major Pest <i>Nilaparvata lugens</i>
Zhenfei Zhang, Yong Liu, Vincent Portaluri, C. M. Woodcock, John A. Pickett, Senshan Wang, Jing‐Jiang Zhou
Abstract
(BPH). The semiochemicals emitted by uninfested plants (UIRVs) were more attractive to BPHs. Interestingly, the attractiveness of UIRVs was significantly reduced by the addition of the blend that mimics the natural composition of these semiochemicals emitted by infested plants (IRVs). Our study suggests a mechanism for the spread of pest infestation from infested plants to uninfested plants nearby. UIRVs initially serve as attractive signals to rice insect pests. The pest infestation changes the rice semiochemical profile to be less attractive or even repellent, which pushes further colonization to uninfested plants nearby. The identified semiochemicals can be used for crop protection based on a push-pull strategy.