Effect of Sulfur Dioxide as a Component of the Volatile Organic Compounds of Fungi of the Genus <i>Lecanicillium</i> on the Phytophagous Western Flower Thrips and Peach Aphid

Earlier, using the MS7-200 quadrupole mass spectrometer developed by the IAP RAS, sulfur dioxide was detected as part of volatile organic compounds (VoCs) released into the air by entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) of the genus Lecanicillium. In this work, we evaluated the effect of this compound on such dangerous phytophages as the Western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis and the peach aphid Myzus persicae in low doses corresponding to the content of sulfur dioxide in the composition of VOCs over the growing mycelium of fungi. It was found that sulfur dioxide did not have a negative effect on female thrips F. occidentalis and their fertility when sulfur dioxide is injected into vials at concentrations of 9 and 17 ppm and kept for 2 hours. At a dose of 33 ppm, sulfur dioxide caused a 10% mortality of female thrips after 2 hours and 15.4% after 1 day, while a 36% decrease in female fertility was observed. Sulfur dioxide at concentrations of 17-33 ppm was nontoxic for peach aphid females after 2 hours. Aphid mortality at the level of 26% was noted after 2 days at a sulfur dioxide concentration of 33 ppm, while fertility decreased by 22%. At a dose of 23 ppm, sulfur dioxide reduced the fertility of aphids most significantly - by 30%. The data obtained indicate the influence of sulfur dioxide contained in the composition of fungal VOCs on the behavioral reactions of phytophages.