Effect of temperature on biosynthesis of sex pheromone components in potato tuberworm moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

Rearing temperature modified the sex pheromone component ratio in the potato tuberworm moth,Phthorimaea operculella. This phenomenon seemed to be induced with ambient temperature by differences in timing and speed of biosynthesis between two pheromone components. (E,Z,Z)-4,7,10-Tridecatrienyl acetate (triene) was mainly synthesized during the pupal period, while most of (E,Z)-4,7-tridecadienyl acetate (diene) was synthesized during a short period just after emergence. Therefore, the ratio of triene in a newly emerging adult was relatively high at all temperatures although the amount of triene was relatively low at 35°C. On the other hand, the synthetic rate of accumulation of diene was clearly modified by ambient temperature. Biosynthesis of diene at 15°C was very low in the first two days and high in the third day. Consequently, a titer of the diene component at 15°C became approximately equivalent to that at 25°C one day later.