Abstract Background The cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), is a major pest causing significant quantitative and qualitative losses in cotton production. Its increasing resistance to commonly used insecticides underscores the urgent need for alternative, non-pesticidal management strategies. Traditional and less-improved cultivated cotton species are known to retain inherent defense mechanisms, including the production of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) that can repel herbivores or attract their natural enemies. In this context, the present study aimed to identify specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by an Asiatic cotton species ( Gossypium herbaceum ) that elicit behavioral responses in adult female leafhoppers, with the goal of exploring their potential in eco-friendly pest management. Results An attractive response was observed when adult females of A. biguttula biguttula were exposed to volatiles from healthy G. herbaceum plants in olfactometer assays. In contrast, herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) from G. herbaceum were found to be repellent. Comparative analysis revealed significant differences between the volatile profiles of healthy plants and those emitting HIPVs. Gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) using female leafhoppers identified 18 electrophysiologically active volatile fractions from both healthy and HIPV-emitting plants. Of these, seven compounds were further evaluated through olfactometer assays. Among them, n -undecane, methyl salicylate, 4-ethylacetophenone, n -tridecane, and n -pentadecane elicited attractive responses, whereas α-pinene and benzoic acid ethyl ester exhibited repellent effects on female A. biguttula biguttula . Conclusion The results highlight the distinct ecological role of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) from G. herbaceum in mediating interactions with the cotton leafhopper. These HIPVs are produced as part of the plant’s defense mechanism in response to herbivore attack, often acting to repel the herbivores. The electrophysiologically active compounds identified in this study hold potential as effective attractant or repellent cues and could be further explored for developing environmentally sustainable management strategies against cotton leafhoppers.
Tondur et al. (Mon,) studied this question.