Methodological approach to identify chemical oviposition stimulants from maize for European corn borer

Abstract

The noncontingent distribution ofO. nubilalis Hbn. eggs on various corn varieties has allowed their classification as either “favorable” or “nonfavorable” hybrids. This classification is based on a chemical communication system using volatile compounds active at a distance from the insect or active when in contact with the insect as soluble sugar components. Under this hypothesis, gas chromatography is the best way of investigating for the chemical differences between corn silk extracts from the two types of hybrids. A first experiment, using a “desorption-trapping” system on Tenax coupled to a gas chromatograph showed a quantitative difference between two compounds from the two hybrids. A second experiment showed the advantages and disadvantages of this method and allowed the development of two complementary techniques: (1) direct extraction of corn silk with trichlorofluo-romethane and direct injection into a capillary column with an apolar stationary phase using an “on-column” system; and (2) extraction under vacuum of volatile compounds from corn silk and their trapping on Tenax, followed by a second desorption. This allows a direct injection on the same capillary column. The first technique allows identification by mass spectrometry of many alkanes with high molecular weights. The second technique seems to confirm the presence of phenylacetaldehyde. Both techniques show quantitative differences in the composition of corn silk extracts from “favorable” and “nonfavorable” hybrids; however, the biologically active chemicals remain unknown.