Determination of the Three Main Components of the Grapevine Moth Pest Pheromone in Grape-Related Samples by Headspace-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) is the most significant pest of viticulture. This article reports the development of an analytical method that allows the instrumental determination of the three main pheromone components of the pest ((E,Z)-7,9-dodecadien-1-yl acetate, (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadien-1-ol and (Z)-9-dodecen-1-yl acetate) in grape-related samples (must, table grape and wine grape). The combination of headspace, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry provides limits of detection in the range of 60–420 ng/Kg and precision, expressed as a relative standard deviation, better than 8.5%. This analytical approach is rapid and simple and opens a door to the study of the pest incidence on the final products.