4-Ethylacetophenone from Potato Plants Repels <i>Phthorimaea operculella</i> and Inhibits Oviposition: A Sustainable Management Strategy

4-Ethylacetophenone from Potato Plants Repels <i>Phthorimaea operculella</i> and Inhibits Oviposition: A Sustainable Management Strategy

The potato tuber moth, <i>Phthorimaea operculella</i> (Zeller), is an important pest of potato crops capable of boring into and consuming the potato tubers. Although chemical insecticides are employed to control <i>P. operculella</i> populations, their efficacy is frequently...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xinyu Ma, Junjie Yan, Guangyuan Su, Fathiya M. Khamis, Athanase Hategekiman, Yulin Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
potato tuber moth
repellents
plant volatile
electrophysiological behavioral responses
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/403
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Summary:The potato tuber moth, <i>Phthorimaea operculella</i> (Zeller), is an important pest of potato crops capable of boring into and consuming the potato tubers. Although chemical insecticides are employed to control <i>P. operculella</i> populations, their efficacy is frequently limited, raising environmental concerns. Host plant volatiles are important allelochemicals that can be exploited for the management of pests. In our previous studies, we identified five volatile organic compounds (3-ethylacetophenone, 4-ethylacetophenone, geranylacetone, ethylbenzene, and 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone) as allelochemicals potentially influencing the oviposition behavior of <i>P. operculella</i>. Using electroantennography (EAG) and behavioral assays, we found that 4-ethylacetophenone significantly repelled <i>P. operculella</i> at all tested concentrations (1 μg, 10 μg, and 100 μg; <i>p</i> < 0.05), while 3-ethylacetophenone showed no significant effects (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Finally, the effect of 4-ethylacetophenone on preventing <i>P. operculella</i> from laying eggs was determined by an oviposition selection experiment. Our findings indicate that 4-ethylacetophenone derived from potato plants not only repels <i>P. operculella</i> and prevents egg-laying but also has the potential to reduce the number of eggs, making it a promising green alternative for controlling this pest.
ISSN:2075-4450

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