Preferência de Chrysoperla externa por voláteis constitutivos e induzidos pela herbivoria de Leucoptera coffeella em café (Coffea arabica)

Abstract

Plants have developed a variety of defense mechanisms against herbivores, including the production of chemical compounds that directly affect herbivorous arthropods and the indirect recruitment of natural enemies mediated by Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles (HIPVs). Coffee plant Coffea arabica, one of the most important crops in Brazil, suffers from productivity limitations due to the incidence of economically significant pests, such as Leucoptera coffeella, which is prevalent in tropical climates. Predation by natural enemies, such as Chrysoperla externa, is common in coffee crops, but little is known about their trophic interactions in coffee agroecosystems. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the preference of C. externa for constitutive and herbivory-induced volatiles from L. coffeella in coffee plants. Choice tests were conducted to evaluate the preference of larvae for infested or non-infested plants and the oviposition preference of adults of this chrysopid. Additionally, using a Y-tube olfactometer,

the olfactory preference of both larvae and adults to volatiles from L. coffeella infested and non- infested coffee plants was evaluated. C. externa larvae showed a preference for infested plants

over non-infested ones. However, adults did not show a clear preference for oviposition between infested and non-infested plants. In the olfactometry assays, both larvae and adults

showed an olfactory preference for HIPVs compared to different combinations, including non- infested plants and clean air. The results indicate that the manipulation of HIPVs can be an

important strategy to attract natural enemies to coffee crops, contributing to the development of different pest control strategies. Future research is recommended to explore interactions with multiple herbivory in coffee and their effects on interactions with natural enemies, aiming to enhance biological control.