Prealighting and\nPostalighting Volatile Organic Compounds\nEmitted by Rice Influence the Behavior of Scirpophaga\nincertulas

Yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas, is a major rice pest causing significant yield losses worldwide.\nWe investigated how volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by\nthe rice variety TN1, both before and after infestation, as well as\nby its companion weeds, Echinochloa colona and Echinochloa crus-galli, influence\nthe behavior of YSB in host selection, recognition, and establishment.\nOlfactometry bioassays showed that uninfested TN1 plant VOCs attracted\nYSB more than those from YSB-infested rice plants and weeds. Changes\nin the VOC profile of TN1 during 24–48 h post-YSB infestation\nrevealed that these postalighting compounds may deter YSB oviposition.\nXylene, cymene, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro naphthalene, dodecanol, and tetradecanol\ncould be possible YSB attractants based on metabolomics, olfactometry,\nand GC-EAD studies. This work illuminates rice plant–YSB chemical\ninteractions and VOCs dynamic function in attraction and defense processes.\nThese findings provide a foundation for developing VOC-based pest\nmanagement strategies to mitigate yield losses in rice farming.