Effect of Aspidiotus rigidus infestation on the volatile chemical profile of the host plant Garcinia mangostana

• Main Authors: Tavera, Mary Angelique A., Lago, J. C.A., Magalong, V. K.D., Vidamo, G. A.V., Carandang, Jose Santos R., Amalin, Divina M., Janairo, Jose Isagani B.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2018
• Subjects: Diterpenes; Plant physiology; Scale insect; Semiochemistry
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/954
• Institution: De La Salle University

Plants respond to stress or damage by releasing volatile compounds, primarily for defense purposes. These volatiles function as signals for di! erent interactions of the plant with its environ- ment. In this study, the volatile chemical pro" le of healthy Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen) leaves was compared against leaves infested with the scale insect, Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne (Hemiptera: Dias- pididae) through solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography- mass spec- trometry (GC-MS). Analyses revealed that leaves emit the terpene kaur-16-ene in response to A. rigidus infestation. Kaur-16-ene is a precursor of gibberellin, a plant hormone for growth and development. The results suggest that the emission of kaur-16-ene in infested G. mangostana may play a role relevant in increasing the resistance of the plant towards infestations by herbivores.