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RESEARCH PRODUCT

The influence of carrot seed oil and its main component carotol on development and behaviour of Aphis fabae aphids

subject

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The behaviour of some aphid species is influenced by different plant odours, especially by plant essential oils, which are the mixtures of terpenes. In our study, carrot seed oil and its main sesquiterpenic component - carotol - were examined as factors influencing the behaviour and development of Aphis fabae Scop. The results of the olfaction experiments showed, that especially carrot seed oil exhibited various activities in the dose-dependent manner. When tested in the amount which did not exceed 0.01 mL of 1% v/v of suspension in water, this substance exhibited strong attractancy toward adult females of Aphis fabae. In contrast, if similar tests were carried out using > 0.1 mL of suspension, carrot seed oil acted as repellent in olfaction tests. The same, dose-dependent effects were observed when using Vicia faba plants treated with the oil suspension. Carotol, the main component of carrot seed oil, acts as attractant in both, olfaction and choice experiments, and its activity seems to be positively correlated with its amount. Moreover, when carotol was tested at the same concentrations in which essential oil from carrot seeds attracted the aphids, it exhibited much higher activty. Thus, this compound is primarily responsible for the attractiveness of carrot seed oil. Neither carrot seed oil, nor carotol affected significantly any aspect of the development of Aphis fabae populations.