Chilli  plants (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L. var Dumay) volatiles induced by <i>Aphis gossypii</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and <i>Spodoptera litura</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Chilli plants respond to injury caused by herbivorous insects by emitting various volatile compounds. Insects that infest have different mouths; the difference in mouth type is thought to influence the volatiles released by plants. This research aimed to identify volatile compounds released by chilli plants (Capsicum annuum L. var Dumay) due to infestation by chewing and piercing-sucking insects. Capture of volatile compounds using the Headspace Solid-Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) method. The results showed differences in the composition of volatile compounds released by chilli plants infested by herbivores with different mouth types. Chilli plants not infested by herbivores release as many as 34 compounds. There were 24 volatile compounds released by chilli plants infested by Aphis gossypii and 27 compounds infested by Spodoptera litura. Infestation by herbivores with different mouth types triggers the synthesis of new compounds. Undecane was the only specific compound produced by chilli plants infested by A. gossypii and S. litura. In addition, herbivore infests trigger an increase in the proportion of some volatile compounds. The compound with the highest proportion in chilli plants infested by A. gossypii was eucalyptol (12.92%), while that infested by S. litura was o-xylene (11.77%). Naturally, the volatile substance with the highest proportion was cis-3-hexenyl acetate (21.22%). These findings can be the basis for developing more effective and sustainable pest control strategies and support further understanding plant defence mechanisms against herbivore infestation.