6533b870fe1ef96bd12d0815
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Volatile components of ripe fruits of Morinda citrifolia and their effects on Drosophila
Jean-pierre FarineLuc LegalBrigitte MoreteauJean-luc Le Queresubject
0106 biological sciencesanimal structures[SPI.GPROC] Engineering Sciences [physics]/Chemical and Process EngineeringCarboxylic acidRubiaceaePlant ScienceHorticulture010603 evolutionary biology01 natural sciencesBiochemistryDrosophila sechellia03 medical and health scienceschemistry.chemical_compoundMorinda citrifoliaalkanoic acidsDrosophilidaeBotany[SDV.IDA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Food engineering[SPI.GPROC]Engineering Sciences [physics]/Chemical and Process EngineeringFood scienceMolecular BiologyDrosophila030304 developmental biologychemistry.chemical_classificationHexanoic acid0303 health sciencesRubiaceaebiologyfungifood and beveragestoxicityGeneral MedicineDecanoic acid[SDV.IDA] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Food engineeringbiology.organism_classificationDrosophila melanogasterchemistryMorindavolatile componentsdescription
Abstract The only larval resource of the specialist species, Drosophila sechellia , is ripe fruits of Morinda citrifolia . The chemical composition of this fruit, which is very toxic to most Drosophila species, was investigated and 51 compounds were abundant enough to be identified by GC-MS. The ripe fruit is characterized by a large amount of carboxylic acids, especially octanoic and hexanoic acids. The biological effects of the ripe fruit and its main acids were investigated with behavioural studies. Octanoic acid is responsible for the general toxicity of the fruit to most Drosophila species; D. sechellia is the only species which is resistant to this acid. Hexanoic acid has a unique effect, causing reversible coma but no mortality. Decanoic acid is inactive. A mixture of these three acids in proportions similar to those found in the fruit, mimics the effects of ripe fruits of M. citrifolia .
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-02-01 |