Volatile compounds were collected from apple branches (
Malus domestica) at different developmentalstages, and the antennal response of codling moth females (
Cydia pomonella) to these compoundswas recorded by electroantennography coupled to gas chromatography. Presence of a range ofterpenoid compounds, many of which had antennal activity, was characteristic for volatile collectionsfrom branches with leaves, and from small green apples. Nine compounds from branches with leavesand green fruit consistently elicited an antennal response: methyl salicylate, (
E)-
-farnesene,
-caryophyllene, 4,8-dimethyl-1,3(
E),7-nonatriene, (
Z)3-hexenol, (
Z,
E)-
-farnesene, linalool, germacrene D, and (
E,
E)-
-farnesene. The bouquet emitted from flowering branches contained in additionseveral benzenoid compounds which were not found after bloom. Small green apples, which are themain target of codling moth oviposition during the first seasonal flight period, released very fewesters. In comparison, fully grown apples released a large number of esters, but fewer terpenoids.The study of apple volatiles eliciting an antennal response, together with a survey of the seasonalchange in the release of these compounds, is the first step toward the identification of volatilesmediating host-finding and oviposition in codling moth females.Keywords: Host plant volatiles; phenology; headspace collection; electroantennography; apple;
Malusdomestica; codling moth;
Cydia pomonella; Tortricidae; Lepidoptera