Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of Tuta absoluta to the Tomato-Associated Volatile 1-Nonanol.

Abstract

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a devastating invasive pest of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). To evaluate candidate female-oriented semiochemicals, we examined the electroantennogram (EAG) activity of ten tomato-associated volatiles selected from previous reports. The compound 1-nonanol was selected as a candidate based on its relatively strong EAG activity and was subsequently assessed for its effects on olfaction, orientation, and oviposition. These findings indicate that 1-nonanol elicits female-biased attraction and stimulates oviposition under laboratory conditions. However, its ecological relevance within natural tomato volatile blends and its field performance require further validation before it can be developed as a female-oriented IPM component.