Sulfur volatiles from Allium spp. affect Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), response to citrus volatiles.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, vectors Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) and Candidatus Liberibacter americanus (Lam), the presumed causal agents of huanglongbing. D. citri generally rely on olfaction and vision for detection of host cues. Plant volatiles from Allium spp. (Alliaceae) are known to repel several arthropod species. We examined the effect of garlic chive (A. tuberosum Rottl.) and wild onion (A. canadense L.) volatiles on D. citri behaviour in a two-port divided T-olfactometer. Citrus leaf volatiles attracted significantly more D. citri adults than clean air. Volatiles from crushed garlic chive leaves, garlic chive essential oil, garlic chive plants, wild onion plants and crushed wild onion leaves all repelled D. citri adults when compared with clean air, with the first two being significantly more repellent than the others. However, when tested with citrus volatiles, only crushed garlic chive leaves and garlic chive essential oil were repellent, and crushed wild onions leaves were not. Analysis of the headspace components of crushed garlic chive leaves and garlic chive essential oil by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that monosulfides, disulfides and trisulfides were the primary sulfur volatiles present. In general, trisulfides (dimethyl trisulfide) inhibited the response of D. citri to citrus volatiles more than disulfides (dimethyl disulfide, allyl methyl disulfide, allyl disulfide). Monosulfides did not affect the behaviour of D. citri adults. A blend of dimethyl trisulfide and dimethyl disulfide in 1:1 ratio showed an additive effect on inhibition of D. citri response to citrus volatiles. The plant volatiles from Allium spp. did not affect the behaviour of the D. citri ecto-parasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Waterston). Thus, Allium spp. or the tri- and di-sulphides could be integrated into management programmes for D. citri without affecting natural enemies.

High-performance liquid chromatography for the characterization of carotenoids in the new sweet orange (Earlygold) grown in Florida, USA.

High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection was developed for the separation and identification of carotenoids from a new sweet orange, Earlygold. Carotenoid pigments were extracted using hexane-acetone-ethanol and saponified using 10% methanolic potassium hydroxide. More than 25 carotenoid pigments were separated within 40 min using a ternary gradient (acetonitrile-methanol, methyl tert-butyl ether and water) elution on a C30 reversed-phase column. The carotenoid pattern of Earlygold was generally similar to the early season Hamlin but with some quantitative differences, especially with violaxanthin. Major carotenoids including violaxanthin, lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, antheraxanthin, luteoxanthin, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, and alpha-carotene were identified based on on-line spectral data obtained by a photodiode array detector, and comparison to the spectra of the standards and reported values. A numerical notation, the ratio of the peak heights between absorption bands, was also calculated to compare to the literature values.

Seasonal changes of carotenoid pigments and color in Hamlin, Earlygold, and budd blood orange juices.

The developmental patterns of carotenoids in Hamlin, Earlygold (an early-maturing selection), and Budd Blood sweet orange juices were studied during the September to mid-January period of the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. The carotenoid concentration of Earlygold increased by as much as 4.9 times during the color development compared to 3.9 times in Hamlin and 4.5 times in Budd Blood juice in the same period. For the profiles of carotenoid pigment, dramatic changes occurred among the pigments that were present in high concentrations at the beginning of the season, with lutein and violaxanthin noted as the predominant pigments in Hamlin fruit. A marked increase in the percentage of beta-cryptoxanthin allowed it to become a major pigment in the late stage of maturation. The color development in the new cultivar Earlygold was especially notable, reaching the 36 color number, which is grade A, by late October to mid-November whereas Hamlin juice did not reach this grade A color number until January. Budd Blood juice was similar in carotenoid pigment content and seasonal changes to Hamlin juice, but also, the development of red anthocyanin pigment in January significantly increased juice color.