Premium
Regulation of pheromone production by female pink bollworm moths Pectinophora gossypiella (Sanders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)
Author(s) -
RAFAELI A.,
KLEIN Z.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3032.1994.tb01089.x
Subject(s) - gelechiidae , pink bollworm , pheromone , biology , lepidoptera genitalia , sex pheromone , endocrinology , medicine , stimulation , botany , larva
. We present in this study data which indicate that there is a diel periodicity in the pheromone production of the pink bollworm moth Pectinophora gossypiella (Sanders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) but that it is not well defined. Moreover the control mechanism of pheromone production differs somewhat from that reported for other moths. No pheromonotropic response was obtained when photophase females were injected with synthetic Helicoverpa zea pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (Hez‐PBAN). After decapitation for 24 h, Hez‐PBAN did not induce pheromonotropic activity above control levels, which themselves remained relatively high. No effect on pheromone production was observed after treatment with the non‐steroidal ecdysone agonist (RH5999). Decapitation for 72 h resulted in a significant drop in the control levels of pheromone titres. After decapitation for 72 h, stimulation by injections of Hez‐PBAN and pink bollworm head extracts was observed. In addition, an enhancement of the PBAN stimulation was observed when combined with severance of the ventral nerve cord before injection. On the other hand, pink bollworm head extracts did not cross‐react with Hez‐PBAN antiserum in a radioimmunoassay, indicating that the pheromonotropic factor present is sufficiently different from Hez‐PBAN and does not recognize the antigenic binding sites. In studies using isolated abdomen and pheromone gland cultures in vitro , no stimulation of de novo pheromone biosynthesis was observed but a 3‐fold increase in the de novo fatty acid biosynthesis was detected in pheromone gland cultures.