AUTHOR=Bengtsson Jonas M. , Gonzalez Francisco , Cattaneo Alberto M. , Montagné Nicolas , Walker William B. , Bengtsson Marie , Anfora Gianfranco , Ignell Rickard , Jacquin-Joly Emmanuelle , Witzgall Peter 

TITLE=A predicted sex pheromone receptor of codling moth Cydia pomonella detects the plant volatile pear ester

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2014.00033

DOI=10.3389/fevo.2014.00033

ISSN=2296-701X

ABSTRACT=<p>Plant volatiles mediate host discrimination and host finding in phytophagous insects. Understanding how insects recognize these signals is a current challenge in chemical ecology research. Pear ester, ethyl (<italic>E,Z</italic>)-2,4-decadienoate, is a powerful, bisexual attractant of codling moth <italic>Cydia pomonella</italic> (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) and strongly synergizes the male response to female-produced sex pheromone. We show here that the codling moth odorant receptor (OR) CpomOR3 is dedicated to detecting this plant volatile. Heterologous expression of CpomOR3 in <italic>Drosophila</italic> T1 trichoid and ab3A basiconic sensilla, followed by a screening with codling moth pheromone compounds and known plant volatile attractants, confirms that CpomOR3 binds to pear ester. Although CpomOR3 does not respond to any of the pheromone components tested, a phylogenetic analysis of lepidopteran chemosensory receptor genes reveals a close relationship of CpomOR3 with pheromone receptors (PRs) in moths. This corroborates the interaction of ecological and social chemosensory cues during premating communication. The finding that a plant volatile compound, pear ester, is a specific ligand for a PR-like lepidopteran receptor adds to our understanding of insect-plant interactions and emphasizes the interaction of natural and sexual selection during the phylogenetic divergence of insect herbivores.</p>