GCMS analysis of volatile organic compounds in cotton genotypes against whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gunnadius)

Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production is seriously hampered by the infestation of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. The infestation behavior of the whiteflies could be affected by the quantity of plant released volatile organic compounds. In this study, we determined the presence of volatile organic compounds in different cotton genotypes which shows varying levels of resistance to B. tabaci using GC-MS analysis. Totally seventeen volatile compounds were identified in the cotton plants namely 3-octanol, α-pinene, caryophyllene, camphene, humulene, β-pinene, nonadecane, β-asarone, α-farnesene, β-bisabolene, 3-Cyclohexen-1-ol, 9-octadecanone, myrcene, methoxyacetic acid, eicosane, 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic acid and dibutyl phthalate. However, α-farnesene, β-bisabolene and methoxyacetic acid were present only in resistant (LRA-5166, LHDP-1) and moderately resistant genotypes (GJHV-517), respectively. Therefore these componds might be involved in repellent activity against whitefly. This finding can be used in future to identify B. tabaci repellents and attractants that could be used as tools of IPM of B. tabaci and other whitefly pests.