Chemical constituents of an unacceptable crucifer,Erysimum cheiranthoides, deter feeding byPieris rapae.
The wild cruciferErysimum cheiranthoides was found to contain extractable constituents that deterred feeding by larvae of the crucifer specialistPieris rapae when applied to cabbage leaf disks in both choice and nochoice bioassays. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to separate the extract into several fractions, two of which retained the feeding deterrent activity of the extract. UV-absorption spectra of the fractions suggested that one contained cardenolides similar or identical to those reported to deter oviposition byP. rapae onE. cheiranthoides. The other active fraction evidently contains a compound that deters larval feeding but not adult oviposition. The results suggest that the chemical defense ofE. cheiranthoides depends on two types of compounds acting on separate developmental stages of the insect.