USE OF PHEROMONES IN PEST CONTROL IN COMMERCIAL CROPS IN COLOMBIA

Abstract

In Colombia, crops of economic interest such as potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), guava (Psidium guajava), avocado (Persea americana) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) are often affected by the incidence of numerous pest. These insects are widely distributed in the different producing regions of the country, and cause significant economic losses. Considering these crops and their main pests, a broad program with semichemicals is being conducted, aiming at: (i) identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) responsible for plant-insect and insect-insect interactions; (ii) synthesis and characterization of identified VOCs, and (iii) evaluation of insect behavior with synthesized and identified VOCs. Candidate chemicals compounds have already been identified for Heilipus lauri Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in avocado, Tecia solanivora Polvony (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in potato, Conotrachelus psidii Marshall (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in guava, and Strategus aloeus (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in oil palm. The chemical components of the candidate pheromones in the species showed consistent structural characteristics within their taxonomic subfamilies. Moreover, the evaluation of the electrophysiological and behavioral responses confirmed the insect response and the attraction to some of the VOCs from their host and the insects themselves. Thus, these compounds have a high potential for detection and monitoring of these pests in their respective commercial crops.