Abstract:
Tea production in Kenya is under threat due to red crevice mites (Brevipalpus
phoenicis) infestations during droughts. Cultural pests control practices, eg use of
resistant/tolerant cultivars are used in their control since pesticide use is prohibited. Plants
release volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) that may influence susceptibility/resistance to
pest infestations. OVOCs profiles released by 11 tea cultivars were evaluated to assess
relationship between OVOCs and cultivar tolerance/susceptibility to B. phoenicis. Five
clones were susceptible, with high B. phoenicis infestations while four clones were resistant,
exhibiting low infestation levels. The infestations were linearly correlated to (E)-2-
hexenal,(Z)-3-hexenal (p≤ 0.001),(Z)-3-hexenol,(Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, linalool, germacrene
D, sum of green leaf volatiles (GLVs)(p≤ 0.01), 1-pentene-3-ol, hexanal, indole and (E)-β …