Leaf volatiles and polyphenols in pear trees infested byPsylla pyricola. Evidence of simultaneously induced responses

Summary

Feeding by the homopteranPsylla pyricola on leaves of pear trees induces the production of volatile compounds, such as (E,E)-α-farnesene and methyl-salicylate, as well as the production of polyphenols. The inference on induction is based on GC-MS and HPLC chromatograms from the same samples ofPsylla infested leaves, leaves from the same pear tree beforePsylla infestation and uninfested leaves from other pear trees.Psylla infestation greatly enhanced the production of volatiles ((E,E)-α-farnesene, methyl-salicylate and others) and triggered the production of new polyphenols, characterized by much longer retention times.

However, the responses to infestation depend critically on leaf age (defined by leaf distance to apex). With respect to the leaf volatiles it appears that infested, old leaves produce fewer compounds and lower amounts of the volatiles than infested, young leaves. Moreover, there seem to be differences in pattern. Relative to (E,E)-α-farnesene, methyl-salicylate was found in much lower amounts in heavily infested, old leaves. With respect to polyphenols it was found that infested old leaves collected in August have polyphenols with the same retention times, but more or less equal amounts as uninfested young leaves collected in May. This shows thatPsylla infestation causes the induced response mostly in young leaves.

The induced leaf volatiles may act as synomones to heteropteran bugs. As shown elsewhere,Anthocoris nemoralis responds significantly to (E,E)-α-farnesene and methyl-salicylate when offered in pure form against clean air in a Y-tube olfactometer. The effect of polyphenols on the performance ofP. pyricola is not yet known. Hence, a role in direct defence is still to be investigated.