Phytogenic volatile organic compounds (PVOCs) are released by plants and exhibit a wide variety of functions such as protection against biotic and abiotic stress factors. According to the literature, herbivore-damage in rice plants increased production of β-caryophyllene which resulted in increased attraction of natural enemies of their pests. Rice plants that released more β-caryophyllene, therefore, suffered less herbivore damage. Isolating and identifying PVOCs is a crucial first step in understanding how they aid in such functions for the plants. Solanum lycopersicum (Lemon Boy) is a hybrid tomato that is popular among growers due to its sweet flavor and resistance to several diseases and pests. The leaves of S. lycopersicum were either punctured, sliced, or herbivore damaged by the larvae of Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworms). PVOCs from variously treated leaves were collected using HS-SPME and analyzed using GC-MS. Positive identification of PVOCs was carried out using the NIST mass spectral library and comparison with pure samples. Limonene and β-caryophyllene were positively identified. Quantitative differences in PVOCs across various treatments were observed. Plants with mechanical damage showed on average a 26% decrease in the concentration of limonene and on average a 56% increase in β-caryophyllene. Herbivore damaged plants showed different concentration changes depending on the feeding period. A feeding period of 4 hours in a closed container yielded a 493% and 101% increase in limonene and β-caryophyllene concentrations, respectively. A feeding period of 24 hours in open air yielded on average a 54% decrease in limonene and on average a 67% decrease in β-caryophyllene. No distinct PVOCs were observed in any samples relative to the control. Future work includes modification of methods used to collect herbivore damaged samples and identification and quantification of additional PVOCs.

Analysis of phytogenic volatile organic compounds released by herbivore-induced damaged, mechanically damaged, and intact leaves of Solanum lycopersicum

251st National Meeting (2016)

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