Chemical composition and chemotaxonomy of Nasutitermes spp. defensive secretion from Brazilian Cerrado for the differentiation of species

Oliveira Neto, Jerônimo Raimundo de; Oliveira, Naiara Raica Lopes de; Cruz, Alessandro de Carvalho; Ferri, Pedro Henrique; Azevedo, Neucírio Ricardo de

Chemical composition and chemotaxonomy of Nasutitermes spp. defensive secretion from Brazilian Cerrado for the differentiation of species

Data

2022

Autores

Oliveira Neto, Jerônimo Raimundo de

Oliveira, Naiara Raica Lopes de

Cruz, Alessandro de Carvalho

Ferri, Pedro Henrique

Azevedo, Neucírio Ricardo de

Resumo

Nasutitermes spp. soldier defensive secretion has a toxic and repellent effect against predators. Chemical profile characterization of this secretion is an interesting tool to differentiate similar termite species. This study aimed to determine defensive secretion composition of Nasutitermes spp. soldier and to apply chemotaxonomy tool for the unambiguous species identification. Fifteen volatile compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Multivariate analysis classified populations into three groups. Principal component (PCA), axis 1, was able to separate two groups: group I, colonies 1 and 2 (Nasutitermes corniger) and group II, colony 3 (Nasutitermes ephratae). Therefore, determination of defensive chemical secretion profile proved to be very useful in termite chemotaxonomy, since it was able to differentiate morphologically similar specimens.

Palavras-chave

Nasutitermes, Defensive secretion, Monoterpenes, Multivariate analysis, Chemotaxonomy

Citação

OLIVEIRA-NETO, Jerônimo Raimundo et al. Chemical composition and chemotaxonomy of Nasutitermes spp. defensive secretion from Brazilian Cerrado for the differentiation of species. Natural Product Research, London, v. 36, n. 9, p. 2399-2403, 2022. DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2020.1831492. Disponível em: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14786419.2020.1831492. Acesso em: 11 jul. 2024.