(Z, Z, Z)-3,6,9-nonadecadiene, a potential inhibitor of sex pheromone of Ectropis grisescens Warren (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): electroantennogram test, wind tunnel, and in silico study

Application of sex pheromone is the most environmental-friendly technique to control pests. Moreover, it has been discovered that pheromone analogs can disturb or inhibit mating communication in some species of moths. Ectropis grisescens Warren (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), is the most severe tea defoliator in China. Thus, in our study, an analog of the pest sex pheromone component, (Z, Z, Z)-3,6,9-nonadecadiene (Z3Z6Z9-19:Hy), was selected to determine its potential activity in controlling the pest. Electroantennogram (EAG), Y-tube olfactometer, and wind tunnel experiments separately showed potential inhibition of Z3Z6Z9-19:Hy. The response elicited by Z3Z6Z9-19:Hy displayed a dose-dependent way in EAG test. Furthermore, in Y-tube olfactometer, percentage of positive response of E. grisescens males was significantly (P<0.01) reduced by Z3Z6Z9-19:Hy up to 70%. In wind tunnel, all types of behavioral response were significantly (P<0.01) inhibited by Z3Z6Z9-19:Hy, percentage of contacting source was utterly inhibited at the lowest dose tested. Based on these results, the combination of the analog and SNMP1 protein was also studied. Our study revealed the potential of Z3Z6Z9-19:Hy as a sex pheromone inhibitor, which would provide new perspectives in monitoring and mating disruption of E. grisescens in pest-control strategies.