@article{Allsopp_Dewhirst_Knipe_Prinsloo_2022, title={Attractiveness of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and plum (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Sapphire) flower volatiles to female Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande, 1895)}, volume={30}, url={https://www.africanentomology.com/article/view/10688}, DOI={10.17159/2254-8854/2022/a10688}, abstractNote={<p>Producers in the Western Cape province of South Africa are looking towards a push-pull strategy to reduce oviposition damage to plums by western flower thrips (WFT). White clover, <em>Trifolium repens </em>L., a favoured host plant of WFT, was investigated as a possible trap crop to provide the “pull” element. The attractiveness of collected volatiles of white clover flowers and of unopened (balloon stage) and open plum (<em>Prunus salicina </em>Lindl. cv. Sapphire) blossoms to WFT females was determined, using a Y-tube olfactometer. <em>E-β</em>-Farnesene, a known attractant for WFT, was included as positive control. Clover flower and open plum blossom volatiles exhibited statistically significant attraction of 69% and 71%, respectively, to WFT females. <em>E-β</em>-Farnesene and balloon stage plum blossom volatiles attracted 63% and 65% of WFT, respectively. When compared directly, 69% of WFT females chose the arm with the plum blossom volatiles over the clover flower volatiles. The clear preference shown by WFT for plum blossom volatiles indicates the use of a semiochemical to deter WFT from the plum blossoms would be required to enhance the efficacy of white clover as a trap crop in a push-pull strategy.</p>}, journal={African Entomology}, author={Allsopp, Elleunorah and Dewhirst, Sarah and Knipe, Muriel and Prinsloo, Goddy}, year={2022}, month={Aug.} }