Phenylacetonitrile from the Giant Knotweed, Fallopia sachalinensis, Infested by the Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica, Is Induced by Exogenous Methyl Jasmonate

Abstract

Phenylacetonitrile, (E)-β-ocimene, linalool, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene and (E,E)-α-farnesene were identified as Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, feeding-induced volatiles from the leaves of the giant knotweed, Fallopia sachalinensis, but not by mechanical damage. Volatile emission was also induced by treatment with a cellular signaling molecule, methyl jasmonate. These results suggest that volatiles will be synthesized de novo by a biotic elicitor from P. japonica oral secretion.