Agricultural Research Service

March 27, 2001

The invention relates to a blend of volatile compounds which can attract and/or retain beneficial insects, repel non-beneficial insects, increase the fragrance in flowers or essential oils in plants such as mint, and increase the production of pharmacological compounds such as taxol. Many leafy plants are genetically programmed to react to leaf eating insects by producing protective chemicals. Taxus media, for example, will increase production of taxol and mint will increase production of mint flavor. Besides the primary reaction of the plant, the volatile compounds may induce a secondary reaction in other insects such as attracting desirable insects hoping to feed on the leaf eating insects or repelling further attack by leaf eating insects. It has been found that by spraying plants with a blend of volatile compounds similar to the oral secretions of insect herbivores it is possible to induce the plant to produce these reactive or protective compounds without causing the plant to sustain any leaf damage. Also, adding these volatile compounds to water in a vase will increase the natural fragrance of cut flowers placed in the water.

James H. Tumlinson Center for Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology Gainesville, Florida 32608 (352) 374-5730/ Fax: (352) 374-5707 E-mail: jtumlinson@gainesville.usda.ufl.edu	Theodoor C. J. Turlings (retired)
Tappey H. Jones Virginia Military Institute Department of Chemistry Lexington, VA 24450	John H. Loughrin (retired)