# From Factory to Field: Sex Pheromone of Plutella xylostella Produced in Yeast Cell-Factories Validated in Laboratory and Field Trials

## TL;DR

This study shows that yeast can produce a sex pheromone for diamondback moths that works as well as chemically made pheromones in both lab and field tests.

## Contribution

The novel use of yeast cell-factories to produce diamondback moth sex pheromones is validated for practical pest control applications.

## Key findings

- Yeast-derived pheromone blends elicited equivalent responses from diamondback moth males as chemically synthesized blends in lab tests.
- Field trials confirmed that yeast-derived pheromones are as effective as synthetic ones for trapping male moths in cabbage fields.
- Minor impurities in yeast-derived pheromones did not interfere with insect behavior or antennal responses.

## Abstract

The use of insect sex pheromones in mating disruption represents a sustainable alternative to conventional insecticides for agricultural pest control. Notably, this method remains effective against insecticide-resistant pest populations. Furthermore, the novel production of pheromones in engineered yeast cell-factories—a cost-effective and innovative platform—is a ground-breaking technology poised to transform modern plant protection strategies. Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), the diamondback moth (DBM), is a key pest of oilseed and vegetable crops worldwide and one of the most resistant pest species globally to chemical insecticides. This study demonstrated that in laboratory assays—electrophysiological and behavioral—both the yeast-derived and chemically synthesized pheromone blends elicited equivalent responses from DBM males. In addition, in monitoring trials in cabbage fields in Greece it was confirmed that the DBM binary pheromone blend—comprising (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate which were derived from (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol produced by yeast cell-factories—was as efficient and specific for trapping male moths as the conventional ternary synthetic blend [(Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol]. The yeast-derived mixture contained small amounts of unoxidized (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol due to incomplete oxidation.

Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), the diamondback moth (DBM), is a cosmopolitan pest of brassicas. To validate and compare the performance of yeast-derived sex pheromone components with chemically synthesized ones, we studied the behavioral and electrophysiological responses (EAGs) of male DBM adults. In addition, using gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), we examined whether any residual impurities present in yeast-derived pheromone components can be perceived by the insects’ antennae and are thus capable of interfering with normal behavior. Furthermore, we assessed the performance of the yeast-derived pheromones under field conditions through monitoring trials conducted in cabbage crops in Greece. Electrophysiological and behavioral assays revealed equivalent responses from the insects to both the yeast-derived (BIO) and chemically synthesized (CHEM) pheromone blends. Consistent with this, GC-EAD results showed no significant differences in antennal response to minor impurities present in the BIO blend compared to the CHEM blend. Finally, it was demonstrated that the binary pheromone blend—comprising (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate derived from (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol produced by yeast cell-factories—was as efficient and specific for trapping male moths in cabbage fields as the conventional ternary synthetic blend [(Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol]. The yeast-derived mixture contained small amounts of unoxidized (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol due to incomplete oxidation.