Volatile chemical profiles of groundnut varieties at different growth stages: Comparative volatile analysis of infested and non-infested plants by the groundnut leaf miner (Bilobata subsecivella, Zeller)

Title : Volatile chemical profiles of groundnut varieties at different growth stages: Comparative volatile analysis of infested and non-infested plants by the groundnut leaf miner (Bilobata subsecivella, Zeller)

Abstract:

The groundnut leaf miner (Bilobata subsecivella, Zeller) is a major pest of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) that affects crop yield and quality. A key aspect of plant-insect interactions is the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by plants in response to herbivorous insect infestations. This study investigates the variation in VOC profiles emitted by groundnut plant varieties at non-infested (seedling establishment) and infested (early and late reproductive) stages. Using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we identified that the most dominant compounds emitted from both flowers and leaves were 1-penten-3-one, linalool, 3-octanol, cis-3-hexenol, 1-octen-3-ol, heptanal, and trans-2-hexenal. Our findings offer insights into the VOCs that mediate the interaction between groundnut and B. subsecivella infestations and form the basis for developing effective monitoring and control strategies for this pest.
Keywords: Groundnut, Infestation, Bilobata Subsecivella, Volatile Organic Compounds

Biography:

Zwivhuya Leonard Ndou is a Crop Protection Lecturer at the University of Zululand and a doctoral candidate specializing in groundnut-insect interactions. He graduated M.Sc. in Agricultural Crop Protection in 2015 from the University of Venda. With more than a decade of experience in private and government sectors, he engages with rural farming communities, utilizing indigenous knowledge systems for botanical pest management. He coordinates research projects on postharvest entomology, biological control, and insect ecology to advance sustainable crop protection through teaching, research, and community engagement.