ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Apion miniatum Germ. Herbivory on the Mossy
Sorrel, Rumex confertus Willd.: Induced Plant
Volatiles and Weevil Orientation Responses
Dariusz Piesik1, Ireneusz Kalka2, Anna Wenda-Piesik3, Jan Bocianowski4
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1Department of Entomology and Molecular Phytopathology, University of Technology and Life Sciences,
85-225 Bydgoszcz, Kordeckiego 20, Poland
2Lechpol Sp. z o.o., 89-200 Szubin, Jana Pawła II 36, Poland
3Department of Plant Growth Principles and Experimental Methodology,
University of Technology and Life Sciences, 85-225 Bydgoszcz, Kordeckiego 20, Poland
4Poznań University of Life Sciences, Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods,
Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Submission date: 2014-01-21
Acceptance date: 2014-04-30
Publication date: 2014-12-16
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2014;23(6):2149-2156
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ABSTRACT
In this paper we report on the large induction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a single leaf
of the mossy sorrel, Rumex confertus Willd. (Polygonaceae), by herbivory of the red dock weevil (Apion
miniatum Germ., Coleoptera: Apionidae). VOC blends induced by the red dock weevil herbivory included 5
green leaf volatiles (GLVs) ((Z)-3-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenol, (E)-2-hexenol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl
acetate), two esters (benzyl acetate, methyl salicylate), and four terpenes ((Z)-β-ocimene, linalool, β-
caryophyllene, (E)-β-farnesene). Not surprisingly, uninjured plants produced only small amounts of VOCs. A
Y-tube experiment revealed that females of A. miniatum were attracted to the blend (blend 1) of (Z)-3-hexenal
+ (E)-2-hexenal + (Z)-3-hexenol + (E)-2-hexenol + (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate at two concentrations of 1 and
5 ng·min-1. In contrast males of the red dock weevil were not attracted to any tested concentration. Moreover,
females and males of A. miniatum were not attracted to any concentration of blend 2 ((Z)-ocimene + linalool
+ benzyl acetate + methyl salicylate + ß-caryophyllene + (E)-ß-farnesene). Yet the red dock weevil females
and males were repelled by the highest concentration (125 ng·min-1) for both blends.