Mw. Ir. J.G. de Boer : Bugs in odour space

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13 Feb 2004 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula (gebouw 362), Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Promotor: prof.dr. M. Dicke (Entomology)
Co Promotor: Prof.dr. M.W. Sabelis

 Natural enemies of herbivorous arthropods can use volatiles from plants to locate their prey. Plants emit specific odours upon infestation by herbivores and these odours comprise information about the presence and quality of prey. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles can consist of many different compounds. The composition of the odour is influenced by plant and herbivore species, but also by the conditions under which plants are grown (e.g. light, water and nutrients) and by infestation with a second herbivore or pathogen. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles play an important role in the prey-searching behaviour of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis. This predatory mite is an important biocontrol agent of spider mites in the genus Tetranychus. During my Ph.D.-project I investigated three aspects of its searching behaviour: (1) how predatory mites respond to spider mite-induced plant odours when they are mixed with other herbivore-induced plant volatiles, (2) which specific compounds play a role in the searching behaviour of the predatory mite, and (3) the role of ‘learning’ in the response of the predatory mite to plant volatiles.
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