HCN: a Feeding Deterrent in Peach to the Oblique-Banded Leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

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Abstract
Larvae of Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) placed on peach leaves did not survive, whereas pupation on fava bean and apple foliage was 90 and 52%, respectively. Artificial diets containing lyophilized peach leaves or ethanol extracts of peach leaves deterred feeding by larvae. Crushed peach leaves or peach leaf extracts and all diets that inhibited larval feeding and development gave off HCN. Addition of amygdalin hydrolyzing enzymes to artificial diets increased HCN production. Feeding increased after exhaustive release of HCN from diets. Addition of amygdalin to bean leaf diets reduced feeding but feeding increased after hydrolysis of amygdalin and release of HCN. The data suggest that amygdalin in peach leaves is a deterrent to feeding of C. rosaceana larvae.