Plants produce a high diversity of secondary metabolites with a prominent function in the protection against pests and pathogens. In this work, we studied the chemical composition and the effect of six essential oils extracted from three Asteraceae species (Heteromera fuscata, Coleostephus myconis and Mauranthemum paludosum) on nutritional indexes, adult emergence and larva and adult toxicity of Tribolium confusum. Flower and leaf essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation. The study of their chemical composition was carried out by GC-MS. The results showed that they are rich on monoand sesquiterpens. The consumption of essential oils mixed with artificial diet of T. confusum larvae showed that H. fuscata leaf essential oil delayed the insect growth, reduced the food consumption and exhibited significant food deterrent index (0.02 ± 0.01 mg/mg/j, 0.05 ± 0.02 mg/mg/j, and 71.20 ± 19.22%, respectively) on treated larvae. Topical application of Asteraceae essential oils on pupae less than 24 h of age caused malformation on emerged adults. The highest level of malformation (18%) was induced by C. myconis leaf essential. Topical application of those essential oils on T. confusum adults (10 and 14 days-old) showed higher toxicity. The highest mortality of about 41% was recorded 7 days post-treatment on adults treated with essential oils from M. paludosum leaves. These preliminary results could represent the basis for further investigations on the susceptibility of the other developmental stages and elucidation of the mode of action of mono- and sesquiterpenoids against these insect pests
Chemical constituents and toxicity of essential oils from three Asteraceae plants against Tribolium confusum
FLAMINI, GUIDO;
2014-01-01
Abstract
Plants produce a high diversity of secondary metabolites with a prominent function in the protection against pests and pathogens. In this work, we studied the chemical composition and the effect of six essential oils extracted from three Asteraceae species (Heteromera fuscata, Coleostephus myconis and Mauranthemum paludosum) on nutritional indexes, adult emergence and larva and adult toxicity of Tribolium confusum. Flower and leaf essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation. The study of their chemical composition was carried out by GC-MS. The results showed that they are rich on monoand sesquiterpens. The consumption of essential oils mixed with artificial diet of T. confusum larvae showed that H. fuscata leaf essential oil delayed the insect growth, reduced the food consumption and exhibited significant food deterrent index (0.02 ± 0.01 mg/mg/j, 0.05 ± 0.02 mg/mg/j, and 71.20 ± 19.22%, respectively) on treated larvae. Topical application of Asteraceae essential oils on pupae less than 24 h of age caused malformation on emerged adults. The highest level of malformation (18%) was induced by C. myconis leaf essential. Topical application of those essential oils on T. confusum adults (10 and 14 days-old) showed higher toxicity. The highest mortality of about 41% was recorded 7 days post-treatment on adults treated with essential oils from M. paludosum leaves. These preliminary results could represent the basis for further investigations on the susceptibility of the other developmental stages and elucidation of the mode of action of mono- and sesquiterpenoids against these insect pestsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
