Chapter 7
Chemical Ecology
Abstract
The third stage of Infective juveniles (IJs) habitually traces suitable hosts when the insects feed, through
chemical cues produced from plant roots damaged by herbivores. EPNs are attracted to CO 2 and volatile
substances emitted by soil insects and plant roots. Besides, other chemical mixtures, belonging to diverse
chemical categories persuade chemotaxis in nematodes. Multitrophic interactions that use and exchange
this chemical information play key role in protection of plant and predator-prey mechanics in the chemical
ecology of EPNs.
Various protocols are examined to study the complexity of adaptations in a chemical ecology of a
chemically mediated tritrophic interactions among plants, insects and nematodes.
Keywords Chemotaxis, CO 2 , Sensory neurons, Chemical attractant, Volatile cues, Semiochemical,
Olfactometer
l
Infective juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes habitually
trace suitable hosts when the insects feed, through chemical cues
produced from plant roots damaged by herbivores [135, 136].
l
The unique tripartite complex of EPN-symbiont-host forms
pheromones, compounds which are insecticidal in nature, antipathogenic compounds, and scavenging deterrents that are
important for the EPNs [121, 137, 138].
l
Such metabolites offer abundance of chemical material to other
habitants in the ecological community such as insect prey of
nematodes and other plants.
l
Multitrophic interactions that use and exchange these chemical
information play key role in protection of plant and predator–prey mechanics in the chemical ecology of EPNs.
1 Chemical Cues
Various EPNs are attracted to CO 2 emitted by soil insects and plant
roots. CO 2 acts in a combined manner with root volatiles to appeal
EPNs [139]. Besides CO 2 , other chemical mixtures, belonging to
S. Sivaramakrishnan and M. Razia, Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria, Springer Protocols Handbooks,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_7,
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
31
Chemical Ecology
Abstract
The third stage of Infective juveniles (IJs) habitually traces suitable hosts when the insects feed, through
chemical cues produced from plant roots damaged by herbivores. EPNs are attracted to CO 2 and volatile
substances emitted by soil insects and plant roots. Besides, other chemical mixtures, belonging to diverse
chemical categories persuade chemotaxis in nematodes. Multitrophic interactions that use and exchange
this chemical information play key role in protection of plant and predator-prey mechanics in the chemical
ecology of EPNs.
Various protocols are examined to study the complexity of adaptations in a chemical ecology of a
chemically mediated tritrophic interactions among plants, insects and nematodes.
Keywords Chemotaxis, CO 2 , Sensory neurons, Chemical attractant, Volatile cues, Semiochemical,
Olfactometer
l
Infective juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes habitually
trace suitable hosts when the insects feed, through chemical cues
produced from plant roots damaged by herbivores [135, 136].
l
The unique tripartite complex of EPN-symbiont-host forms
pheromones, compounds which are insecticidal in nature, antipathogenic compounds, and scavenging deterrents that are
important for the EPNs [121, 137, 138].
l
Such metabolites offer abundance of chemical material to other
habitants in the ecological community such as insect prey of
nematodes and other plants.
l
Multitrophic interactions that use and exchange these chemical
information play key role in protection of plant and predator–prey mechanics in the chemical ecology of EPNs.
1 Chemical Cues
Various EPNs are attracted to CO 2 emitted by soil insects and plant
roots. CO 2 acts in a combined manner with root volatiles to appeal
EPNs [139]. Besides CO 2 , other chemical mixtures, belonging to
S. Sivaramakrishnan and M. Razia, Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria, Springer Protocols Handbooks,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_7,
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
31