Roles of alpha-farnesene in the behaviors of codling moth females.

Reproduction and olfactory behavioral responses of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), females to synthetic alpha-farnesene were observed in the laboratory as well as their reproduction behaviors in an apple orchard. Calling levels were lifted and ovipositional peaks were advanced in codling moth females at presence of 1 microg and 0.1 microg of alpha-farnesene, respectively. Mated females of codling moth more actively responded to 0.01 microg alpha-farnesene with walking and wing-fanning while walking than to other doses (0.001, 0.1, 1, 10 microg) and control. The results show that alpha-farnesene plays important roles in the behaviors of codling moth females. However, the differences between responses to alpha-farnesene and those to apple volatiles by codling moth females indicate that components other than alpha-farnesene in apple volatiles also have biological activities.