DEFENSIVE ROLE OF ALLIUM SULFUR VOLATILES AGAINST THE INSECTS

Sulfur volatiles emitted by Allium plants attract the insects which de velop in contact with these plants. But the sulfur volatiles can be pe rceived by other organism living in the vicinity or far from this bioc enose and can have negative effects on them. Several works have shown that Allium or extracts were active on many insects. The present knowl edges on odour emission of Allium were then summarized to search the a ctive compounds. Two kinds of actions were shown. The first one was th e behavioural consequences like repulsion and anti-appetence. The seco nd one was the physiological consequences like the effects on developm ent and the insecticidal effects. Many insect species were concerned a mong predators, parasitoids, hematophages, specialist and generalist p hytophages, follivores and seminivores. The properties of the sulfur v olatiles can be used to control insect populations friendly to the env ironment.