The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (<i>Halyomorpha halys</i> Stål.) Influences Pungent and Non-Pungent <i>Capsicum</i> Cultivars’ Pre- and Post-Harvest Quality
<i>Halyomorpha halys</i> is an important invasive pest that causes severe damage to fruits and vegetables. Peppers are susceptible to infestation by <i>H. halys</i>, resulting in yield losses. Plants respond to the insect infestation with a metabolic response. With this study...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | article |
| Language: | EN |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doaj.org/article/b9c34040cad24551b733f9a162fda4b0 |
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| Summary: | <i>Halyomorpha halys</i> is an important invasive pest that causes severe damage to fruits and vegetables. Peppers are susceptible to infestation by <i>H. halys</i>, resulting in yield losses. Plants respond to the insect infestation with a metabolic response. With this study, we attempted to determine the intensity of the metabolic response of infested peppers, how pungent and non-pungent peppers react to the infestation, and how the <i>H. halys</i> affects the post-harvest quality of both cultivars. The shelf life of the infested peppers did not change compared to the control treatments. We observed a drastic decrease in metabolite levels after storage in all three treatments in both cultivars, especially capsaicinoids, with an approximate decrease of 30% in the pericarp and 95% in the placenta of the pungent ‘Eris F1’. In some cases, the accumulation of metabolites was not limited to the fruit exposed to the <i>H. halys</i> infestation, but to the entire plant. We observed a 15-fold increase in capsaicinoid content in the infested fruits of cultivar ‘Eris F1’ and a 4-fold increase in the pericarp of cultivar ‘Lombardo tago’, which could lead to a possible further study on the defensive function of capsaicinoids and their use against <i>H. halys</i>. |
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