Beijing, June 15 (EFE).- A team of Chinese scientists has published new advances in the knowledge of the olfactory mechanism of insects, which provides useful information to develop safe, efficient pesticides that do not harm the environment.
The research, published on the web platform of the specialized magazine Science, is based on the premise that insects – in this case aphids – use their sense of smell to perceive chemical substances emitted by other organisms, which generates a conductive response in the first.
Among the olfactory receptors, there are specific ones that are activated by alarm pheromones, the substance secreted by aphids due to the presence of a natural enemy or other dangers, the study indicates.
The pheromones contained in that substance are smelled by nearby aphids, acting as a warning for them to escape, the study indicates.
Using cryoelectron microscopes, scientists studied the structure of these alarm receptors in aphids and discovered the mechanism by which these insects recognize pheromones that warn of danger, providing a new perspective for understanding interactions between insects. .
The researcher at the Shenzhen Institute of Agricultural Genomics (south) and project director, Wang Guirong, highlighted the scientific and practical importance of the discovery, which can serve as a guide for the development of environmentally friendly pest control systems.
Along with Wang, scientists from Huazhong Agricultural University and the Institute of Plant Protection, both belonging to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, also participated in the research. EFE
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