Juvenile hormone induction of pheromone gland PBAN-responsiveness in Helicoverpa armigera females

The maturation of corpora allata (CA) and the competence of pheromone I:lan ds in the adult moth Helicoverpa armigera, are both age-related and appear to be correlated. Sex pheromone glands of pharate adults do not produce sex pheromone independently, nor do they respond to exogenous PBAN. Newly emer ged moths produce significantly less pheromone than day one moths. JH (juve nile hormone) II, was found to be the main JH form produced by CA in vitro. JH II primed pheromone glands of pharate adults to respond to PBAN. In add ition, injection or topical application of JH II to newly-emerged females i nduced pheromone production in the presence of PBAN. Our findings suggest t hat JH is involved in the initiation of pheromone production of Helicoverpa armigera. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.