Effect of Aspidiotus rigidus infestation on the volatile chemical profile of the host plant Garcinia mangostana

Plants respond to stress or damage by releasing volatile compounds, primarily for defense purposes. These volatiles function as signals for different interactions of the plant with its environment. In this study, the volatile chemical profile of healthy Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen) leaves was compared against leaves infested with the scale insect, Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) through solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Analyses revealed that leaves emit the terpene kaur-16-ene in response to A. rigidus infestation. Kaur-16-ene is a precursor of gibberellin, a plant hormone for growth and development. The results suggest that the emission of kaur-16-ene in infested G. mangostana may play a role relevant in increasing the resistance of the plant towards infestations by herbivores.