Behavioral Responses of <i>Chrysoperla defreitasi</i> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Volatile Compounds from Wild and Domesticated <i>Ugni molinae</i>

Domestication significantly altered the phenotypic and chemical traits of murtilla, notably reducing the emission of volatile compounds essential for plant–insect interactions. This reduction may affect the plant’s natural defense mechanisms, influencing its interactions with herbivores and predator...

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Main Authors: Manuel Chacón-Fuentes, Leonardo Bardehle, César Burgos-Díaz, Marcelo Lizama, Daniel Martínez-Cisterna, Mauricio Opazo-Navarrete, Cristina Bravo-Reyes, Andrés Quiroz
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/6/594
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author Manuel Chacón-Fuentes
Leonardo Bardehle
César Burgos-Díaz
Marcelo Lizama
Daniel Martínez-Cisterna
Mauricio Opazo-Navarrete
Cristina Bravo-Reyes
Andrés Quiroz
author_facet Manuel Chacón-Fuentes
Leonardo Bardehle
César Burgos-Díaz
Marcelo Lizama
Daniel Martínez-Cisterna
Mauricio Opazo-Navarrete
Cristina Bravo-Reyes
Andrés Quiroz
author_sort Manuel Chacón-Fuentes
collection DOAJ
description Domestication significantly altered the phenotypic and chemical traits of murtilla, notably reducing the emission of volatile compounds essential for plant–insect interactions. This reduction may affect the plant’s natural defense mechanisms, influencing its interactions with herbivores and predators. Therefore, this study tests whether domestication reduces volatile emissions in murtilla, increasing aphid preference and decreasing lacewing attraction. We selected wild ancestors (19-1, 22-1, and 23-2) from a longterm <i>Ugni molinae</i> germplasm bank. Crosses between these wild ancestors generated four first-generation domesticated ecotypes, 10-1, 16-16, 17-4, and 66-2, used in this study. These first-generation domesticated ecotypes were six years old at the time of the study and were used for comparisons in volatile profile and insect interaction analyses. The olfactometric preference index (OPI) for lacewing larvae and aphids revealed that wild ancestors attracted more predators than domesticated plants. For example, Ecotype 19-1 had an OPI of 1.64 for larvae and 1.49 for aphids, while Ecotype 10-1 showed lower attraction (OPI of 1.01 for larvae and 1.00 for aphids). Gas chromatography analysis identified differences in volatile organic compounds, with wild ancestor ecotypes emitting higher levels of compounds such as 2-hexanone, 1,8-cineole, and α-caryophyllene. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering confirmed these chemical distinctions. In olfactometer assays, lacewing larvae preferred α-caryophyllene and 2,4-dimethyl acetophenone, while aphids favored 2-hexanone and 3-hexanol. In Y-tube assays, lacewing adults showed strong attraction to α-pinene and 2,4-dimethyl acetophenone, with preferences increasing with concentration. These results indicate that domestication altered the volatile murtilla profile, reducing its attractiveness to natural predators while increasing its susceptibility to herbivores, supporting the plant domestication defense theory.
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spelling doaj-art-d4be531df50040cd9d87cf008d0d2d722025-08-20T03:27:22ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-06-0116659410.3390/insects16060594Behavioral Responses of <i>Chrysoperla defreitasi</i> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Volatile Compounds from Wild and Domesticated <i>Ugni molinae</i>Manuel Chacón-Fuentes0Leonardo Bardehle1César Burgos-Díaz2Marcelo Lizama3Daniel Martínez-Cisterna4Mauricio Opazo-Navarrete5Cristina Bravo-Reyes6Andrés Quiroz7Agriaquaculture Nutritional Genomic Center, CGNA, Temuco 4780000, ChileLaboratorio de Química Ecológica, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145, Casilla 54-D, Temuco 4811230, ChileAgriaquaculture Nutritional Genomic Center, CGNA, Temuco 4780000, ChilePrograma de Doctorado en Ciencias Agroalimentarias y Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, ChilePrograma de Doctorado en Ciencias de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, ChileAgriaquaculture Nutritional Genomic Center, CGNA, Temuco 4780000, ChileFoodTech SpA, Temuco 4780000, ChileLaboratorio de Química Ecológica, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145, Casilla 54-D, Temuco 4811230, ChileDomestication significantly altered the phenotypic and chemical traits of murtilla, notably reducing the emission of volatile compounds essential for plant–insect interactions. This reduction may affect the plant’s natural defense mechanisms, influencing its interactions with herbivores and predators. Therefore, this study tests whether domestication reduces volatile emissions in murtilla, increasing aphid preference and decreasing lacewing attraction. We selected wild ancestors (19-1, 22-1, and 23-2) from a longterm <i>Ugni molinae</i> germplasm bank. Crosses between these wild ancestors generated four first-generation domesticated ecotypes, 10-1, 16-16, 17-4, and 66-2, used in this study. These first-generation domesticated ecotypes were six years old at the time of the study and were used for comparisons in volatile profile and insect interaction analyses. The olfactometric preference index (OPI) for lacewing larvae and aphids revealed that wild ancestors attracted more predators than domesticated plants. For example, Ecotype 19-1 had an OPI of 1.64 for larvae and 1.49 for aphids, while Ecotype 10-1 showed lower attraction (OPI of 1.01 for larvae and 1.00 for aphids). Gas chromatography analysis identified differences in volatile organic compounds, with wild ancestor ecotypes emitting higher levels of compounds such as 2-hexanone, 1,8-cineole, and α-caryophyllene. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering confirmed these chemical distinctions. In olfactometer assays, lacewing larvae preferred α-caryophyllene and 2,4-dimethyl acetophenone, while aphids favored 2-hexanone and 3-hexanol. In Y-tube assays, lacewing adults showed strong attraction to α-pinene and 2,4-dimethyl acetophenone, with preferences increasing with concentration. These results indicate that domestication altered the volatile murtilla profile, reducing its attractiveness to natural predators while increasing its susceptibility to herbivores, supporting the plant domestication defense theory.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/6/594insect–plant interactionslacewingaphidVOCsplant domesticationchemical ecology
spellingShingle Manuel Chacón-Fuentes
Leonardo Bardehle
César Burgos-Díaz
Marcelo Lizama
Daniel Martínez-Cisterna
Mauricio Opazo-Navarrete
Cristina Bravo-Reyes
Andrés Quiroz
Behavioral Responses of <i>Chrysoperla defreitasi</i> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Volatile Compounds from Wild and Domesticated <i>Ugni molinae</i>
Insects
insect–plant interactions
lacewing
aphid
VOCs
plant domestication
chemical ecology
title Behavioral Responses of <i>Chrysoperla defreitasi</i> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Volatile Compounds from Wild and Domesticated <i>Ugni molinae</i>
title_full Behavioral Responses of <i>Chrysoperla defreitasi</i> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Volatile Compounds from Wild and Domesticated <i>Ugni molinae</i>
title_fullStr Behavioral Responses of <i>Chrysoperla defreitasi</i> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Volatile Compounds from Wild and Domesticated <i>Ugni molinae</i>
title_full_unstemmed Behavioral Responses of <i>Chrysoperla defreitasi</i> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Volatile Compounds from Wild and Domesticated <i>Ugni molinae</i>
title_short Behavioral Responses of <i>Chrysoperla defreitasi</i> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Volatile Compounds from Wild and Domesticated <i>Ugni molinae</i>
title_sort behavioral responses of i chrysoperla defreitasi i neuroptera chrysopidae and i myzus persicae i hemiptera aphididae to volatile compounds from wild and domesticated i ugni molinae i
topic insect–plant interactions
lacewing
aphid
VOCs
plant domestication
chemical ecology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/6/594
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