Aphid alarm pheromone produced by transgenic plants affects aphid and parasitoid behavior

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Abstract
The alarm pheromone for many species of aphids, which causes dispersion in response to attack by predators or parasitoids, consists of the sesquiterpene (E)-β-farnesene (Eβf). We used high levels of expression inArabidopsis thalianaplants of anEβf synthase gene cloned fromMentha×piperitato cause emission of pureEβf. These plants elicited potent effects on behavior of the aphidMyzus persicae(alarm and repellent responses) and its parasitoidDiaeretiella rapae(an arrestant response). Here, we report the transformation of a plant to produce an insect pheromone and demonstrate that the resulting emission affects behavioral responses at two trophic levels.