Hippophae rhamnoides berry related Pichia kudriavzevii yeast volatiles modify behaviour of Rhagoletis batava flies

Olfactory cues have a large impact on insect behaviour and fitness consequently showing potential in pest management. Yeast released volatiles are used by insects as olfactory cues for finding feeding and oviposition sites. The yeast strain SB-16-15 was isolated from spontaneous fermentation of Hippophae rhamnoides berries and identified as Pichia kudriavzevii. Thirty-nine volatiles were sampled from the headspace of P. kudriavzevii yeasts by solid phase micro extraction and identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. Ten of those volatiles elicited antennal responses of Rhagoletis batava flies, one of the most serious pest of H. rhamnoides berries. In the two-choice experiments, R. batava flies preferred the mixture composed of nine synthetic compounds analogous to electroanntenographic active volatiles released by the yeasts compare to the solvent control. Female flies were significantly attracted to the mixture at the concentration 0.1 µL mL(−1) and showed no preference to the mixture at the concentration 1 µL mL(−1) versus control while males reacted positively to the synthetic blend at the concentration 1 µL mL(−1). Herein, for the first time, behaviour modifying effect of H. rhamnoides berry related yeast volatiles was shown suggesting these semiochemicals have potential in use for monitoring R. batava flies.