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Zaid George Abdallah Badra
PhD student (Nov. 2017 - )
zaidgeorgeabdallah.badra@natec.unibz.it
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Title "Chemical and functional characterization
of induced volatile organic compounds released after
aphid attack in apple orchards and their role as
attractants of aphid natural enemies"
Volatile compounds released by plants under insect attack
play important ecological roles, regulating several
ecosystem aspects such as plant-pest, plant-plant, and
plant-predatory interactions. From a practical point of
view, the chemical and functional characterisation of these
‘bioactive’ natural compounds release by apple trees
infested by aphids may allow to reduce aphid colonies and
enhance natural enemy attraction with the final aim to
increase biological control of aphids in apple orchards. In
this research we will investigate the induced VOCs released
by apple foliage infested with aphid colonies of two
species: rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea
(Hemiptera, Aphididae) and green apple aphid, Aphis
pomi (Hemiptera, Aphididae). These two species are of
key importance in IPM-managed as well as in organic-managed
apple orchards worldwide. Volatile compounds of infested and
non-infested apple plants will we sampled in an
organic-managed apple orchard located in the Research Center
of Laimburg (Italy). Volatile compounds will be collected
with the CLSA method and each compound will be identified
with a gas chromatographer coupled with a mass spectrometer.
Moreover, we will blend few combinations of the identified
VOCs, which will be loaded as lures and applied in
randomized plots of the organic-managed apple orchard. In
order to investigate the ecological role of these blends in
the attraction of the most important aphid natural enemies,
the membrane cups will be inserted in delta traps with
sticky inserts and the number of mirids, chrysopids,
parasitoid wasps and coccinellids will be counted weekly for
up to twelve weeks. Three to five replicates of each lure
treatment will be randomized and spaced 50 m apart and 30 m
from the physical border of the orchard. Traps will be hung
in the tree canopy at a 2.5 – 3.0 m height. Through this
research we aim to explore new ways to enhance natural
enemies attraction to aphid colonies and increase biological
control of aphids in apple orchards.
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