Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae) Response to Different Blends of Olive Fruit Fly-Associated Yeast Volatile Compounds as Attractants

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) is economically the most important olive pest, causing yield losses in all olive growing areas where is detected. Considering that EU requires the reduction of pesticide use by up to 100% by 2050, more effective non-pesticide lures for B. oleae monitoring and/or controlling are needed. This research was aimed at investigating the attractiveness of different blends of olive fruit fly-associated yeast volatiles toward B. oleae. Three blends of olive fruit fly-associated yeast volatiles: isoamyl alcohol and 2-phenethyl alcohol; isoamyl alcohol, 2-phenethyl alcohol and 2-phenethyl acetate; and isoamyl alcohol, 2-phenethyl acetate and isobutyl acetate were selected and tested on yellow sticky traps for attraction of B. oleae in olive orchard. Results showed that traps containing all tested blends of olive fruit fly-associated yeast volatile compounds, in total, were significantly more attractive to B. oleae and were not significantly attractive to green lacewings, compared to the control. Among them, the most promising was the one containing the blend of isoamyl alcohol, 2-phenethyl acetate and isobutyl acetate because its attractiveness was constantly significant during investigation compared to the others. This blend in the future could lead us to the discovery of a new attractant for the monitoring and/or controlling of B. oleae.

Differences in olfactory habituation between orthonasal and retronasal pathways

The odorant arrives at nasal olfactory epithelium ortho- and retronasally. This experiment aimed to study the potential different olfactory habituation in orthonasal and retronasal pathways. 68 subjects were stimulated by constant airflow with an odor (50% phenethyl alcohol, PEA or 5% n-butyl acetate, BA) presented ortho- or retronasally. Participants rated the perceived odor intensity (0–10 points) per minute until the odor sensation disappeared. We also investigated the cross-habituation: when the subjects achieved full habituation, continue to rate odor intensity in a different pathway after instantly switching the odor stimulation pathway. The olfactory habituation curve was drawn. The differences of ratings between the orthonasal and retronasal olfaction at different time points and between male and female subjects were analyzed. The two odor intensity ratings decreased as the time extended, share the same “fast followed by slow” type. The ratings of orthonasal olfaction decreased faster than that of retronasal. The intensity rating of PEA of male retronasal approach was lower than that of female at the 5th min (p = 0.018). When orthonasal full habituation achieved, there was significant difference between the intensity ratings and the initial ratings of the retronasal stimulation pathway (p < 0.0001), and vice versa. We found obvious habituation as well as cross-habituation in both orthonasal and retronasal olfaction. The habituation of orthonasal olfaction was faster than that of retronasal olfaction. These different habituations were related to the gender.

Influence of Synthetic Flavorings on the Migration Activity of Tribolium confusum and Sitophilus granarius

Flavorings and volatile biologically active substances, used by humans for various purposes, may potentially have fumigating, repellent, or attractive effects on various species of anthropod storage pests. Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val, 1863 (Tenebrionidae) and Sitophilus granarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Curculionidae) are the two most abundant pests of grain and grain products; the damage they cause to stored products of horticulture is 5–20% of the total yield of grain crops. In the experiment, we video-recorded migratory activity of beetles and evaluated it according to standard time periods (10, 20, 30, 60, and 120 seconds after the start of the experiment). No reliable influence of the 15 tested flavoring substances (benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, toluene, hydroquinone, phenethyl alcohol, pinene, methylparaben, kojic acid, formic acid, isoamyl alcohol, tartaric acid, glycine, succinic acid, stearic acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) on moving activity of Tribolium confusum was found. Exposure to benzyl alcohol brought a reliable decrease in locomotor activity of Sitophilus granarius (it exerted an attractant effect on imagoes as compared with the variant of the experiment without aromatic substances): 6.09 times more imagoes of S. granarius remained at a minimal distance from the aroma source than in the control, 6.07 more while exposed to hydroquinone, 5.50 to phenethyl alcohol, 4.50 to glycine, 3.44 to EDTA, 3.30 to toluene, 3.18 to methylparaben, 2.84 to succinic acid, 2.65 to benzoic acid, and 2.15 more when exposed to formic acid compared with the control variant of the experiment. Other surveyed flavoring substances (benzyl alcohol, pinene, kojic acid, isoamyl alcohol, tartaric acid, and stearic acid) had no significant effect on migratory activity of imagoes of S. granarius. The results allow us to recommend benzyl alcohol, hydroquinone, phenethyl alcohol, and glycine as potential luring substances or components of multicomponent flavoring mixtures during the assessment of the number of S. granarius in grain storage and processing facilities.

Nonpeptide small molecules with a ten-membered macrolactam or a morpholine motif from the insect American cockroach and their antiangiogenic activity

(±)-Periplactam A (1), a rare ten-membered macrolactam composed of lignan and putrescine, (±)-periplanol E (2), a dimeric phenethyl alcohol derivative formed via morpholine, and periplactams B (3) and C (4) were isolated from American cockroach.

Leds and semiochemicals vs. sex pheromones: tests of the european corn borer attractivity in the Krasnodar territory

In two geographical points of the Krasnodar Territory, viz. vil. Botanika, Gulkevichi District (eastern subzone of the Central natural-economic zone of the Krasnodar Territory) and st. Kurchanskaya, Temryuk District (Anapo-Taman natural-economic zone) on industrial plantations of maize, Delta sticky traps supplied with various baits were tested for attractiveness for adults of the European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. In contrast to sex pheromones, traps with ‘bisex lure’ (semiochemicals phenylacetaldehyde and 4-methoxy-2-phenethyl alcohol) or LEDs captured a considerable number of females, whose prognostic value was significantly higher than that of males. On maize fields near Botanika traps with ‘bisex lure’ caught moths almost at 20- and traps with LEDs more than 70-fold higher rate as compared to sex pheromones. On maize plantations near Kurchanskaya, where both the saturation of crop rotations with maize fields and the pest population is significantly lower, semiochemicals caught ECB moths at the same rate as sex pheromones, in contrast to LEDs, which attracted insects by an order of magnitude more frequently. The results of the tests indicate that the use of LED traps for monitoring of ECB is promising under the modern economic situation of expanding the territories intended for the production of corn grain.

Continuous Production of 2-Phenylethyl Acetate in a Solvent-Free System Using a Packed-Bed Reactor with Novozym® 435

2-Phenylethyl acetate (2-PEAc), a highly valued natural volatile ester, with a rose-like odor, is widely added in cosmetics, soaps, foods, and drinks to strengthen scent or flavour. Nowadays, 2-PEAc are commonly produced by chemical synthesis or extraction. Alternatively, biocatalysis is a potential method to replace chemical synthesis or extraction for the production of natural flavour. Continuous synthesis of 2-PEAc in a solvent-free system using a packed bed bioreactor through immobilized lipase-catalyzed transesterification of ethyl acetate (EA) with 2-phenethyl alcohol was studied. A Box–Behnken experimental design with three-level-three-factor, including 2-phenethyl alcohol (2-PE) concentration (100–500 mM), flow rate (1–5 mL min−1) and reaction temperature (45–65 °C), was selected to investigate their influence on the molar conversion of 2-PEAc. Then, response surface methodology and ridge max analysis were used to discuss in detail the optimal reaction conditions for the synthesis of 2-PEAc. The results indicated both 2-PE concentration and flow rate are significant factors in the molar conversion of 2-PEAc. Based on the ridge max analysis, the maximum molar conversion was 99.01 ± 0.09% under optimal conditions at a 2-PE concentration of 62.07 mM, a flow rate of 2.75 mL min−1, and a temperature of 54.03 °C, respectively. The continuous packed bed bioreactor showed good stability for 2-PEAc production, enabling operation for at least 72 h without a significant decrease of conversion.

Characterisation of volatile compounds of pineapple peel wine

An analytical program based on the headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed to extract and analysis profiling of volatiles from pineapple peel wine. In total, 57 volatile compounds were detected on the basis of the MS information and RI, including 25 esters, 9 alcohols, 8 acids, 7 phenolic compounds, 6 aldehydes and ketones,1 terpene and 1 lactone, respectively. The types of esters are the most in various aroma substances, and the content of alcohols is the largest. Phenethyl alcohol, 3-methyl-1-butano, 2-methyl-1- butano, 2,3-Butanediol and 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol were the major constituents.

Ruthenium(II) Complexes Bearing Thioether-Appended α- Iminopyridine Ligands: Arene Precursors Permit Access to K2-N,N and K3-N,N,S Complexes

Herein we report the preparation of a series of Ru(II) complexes featuring alpha-iminopyridine ligands bearing thioether functionality (NNS^R, where R = Me, CH₂Ph, Ph). Metallation using (<i>p</i> cymene)RuCl dimer permits access to (k²-N,N)Ru complexes in which the thioether moiety remains uncoordinated. In the presence of a strong field ligand such as acetonitrile or triphenylphosphine, the p-cymene moiety is displaced, and the ligand adopts a k³-N,N,S binding mode. These complexes are characterized using a combination of solution and solid state methods, including the crystal structure of [(NNS^Me)Ru(NCMe)₂Cl]Cl. The k²-N,N Ru(II) complexes are shown to serve as efficient precatalysts for the oxidation of sec-phenethyl alcohol at 5 mol% loadings, using a variety of external oxidants and solvents. The complex bearing an S-Ph donor was found to be the most active of those surveyed, suggesting that the thioether donor plays an active role in catalyst speciation for this transformation.

Ruthenium(II) Complexes Bearing Thioether-Appended α- Iminopyridine Ligands: Arene Precursors Permit Access to K2-N,N and K3-N,N,S Complexes

Herein we report the preparation of a series of Ru(II) complexes featuring alpha-iminopyridine ligands bearing thioether functionality (NNS^R, where R = Me, CH₂Ph, Ph). Metallation using (<i>p</i> cymene)RuCl dimer permits access to (k²-N,N)Ru complexes in which the thioether moiety remains uncoordinated. In the presence of a strong field ligand such as acetonitrile or triphenylphosphine, the p-cymene moiety is displaced, and the ligand adopts a k³-N,N,S binding mode. These complexes are characterized using a combination of solution and solid state methods, including the crystal structure of [(NNS^Me)Ru(NCMe)₂Cl]Cl. The k²-N,N Ru(II) complexes are shown to serve as efficient precatalysts for the oxidation of sec-phenethyl alcohol at 5 mol% loadings, using a variety of external oxidants and solvents. The complex bearing an S-Ph donor was found to be the most active of those surveyed, suggesting that the thioether donor plays an active role in catalyst speciation for this transformation.