The effects of non-host plant extracts on the oviposition deterrent and ovicidal activity of Conopomorpha sinensis Bradley (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Authors

  • Qiong Yao Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, People’s Republic of China;
  • Yizhi Dong Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, People’s Republic of China;
  • Wenjing Li Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, People’s Republic of China;
  • Bingxu Chen Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, People’s Republic of China;

Abstract

Conopomorpha sinensis Bradley (Lepidoptera: Gracilariidae) is the most destructive borer pest of litchi, Litchi chinensis Sonn., and longan, Euphoria longan (Lour.) Steud. (both Sapindaceae) fruits in Southeast Asia and southern China. In this study, ethanol extracts from leaves of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae), Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. (Compositae), Eupatorium odoratum (L.) King and Robinson (Compositae), Bauhinia purpurea L. (Leguminosae), and Melaleuca leucadendron L. (Myrtaceae) were chosen to evaluate the oviposition deterrent effect and ovicidal activity of non-host plant extracts on C. sinensis. The plant extracts from L. camara, W. chinensis, and E. odoratum caused oviposition deterrent behavior by the adult C. sinensis. The ethanol extracts from L. camara were found to have the maximum effective deterrence (i.e., 93.5% in the choice test, and 73.6% in the no-choice test). This led to the lowest oviposition activity index (−0.9) and the highest reduction level of egg-laying (3.3 eggs daily per female). In the assessment of ovicidal activity of the plant extracts on C. sinensis, W. chinensis caused diminished hatching rate (< 60%) at concentrations of 0.01 g·mL−1 and 0.1 g·mL−1. These encouraging results suggest that secondary substances from L. camara and W. chinensis have effective oviposition deterrent and ovicidal activities to C. sinensis, and these substances have potential as plant protectants for litchi and longan fruits.

Resumen

Conopomorpha sinensis Bradley (Lepidoptera: Gracilariidae) es la plaga barrenadora más destructiva de los frutos de litchi y del ojo de dragon en el sudeste de Asia y el sur de China. En este estudio, escojimos extractos de etanol de hojas de Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae), Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. (Compositae), Eupatorium odoratum (L.) King & Robinson (Compositae), Bauhinia purpurea L. (Leguminosae) y Melaleuca leucadendron L. (Myrtaceae), para evaluar el efecto disuasorio sobre la oviposición y actividad ovicida de extractos de plantas no hospederas sobre C. sinensis. Los extractos de plantas de L. camara, W. chinensis y E. odoratum causaron un comportamiento disuasorio de la oviposición en los adultos de C. sinensis. Se descubrió que los extractos de etanol de L. camara tienen el mayor efecto de disuasión efectiva (93.5% en la prueba de elección y 73.6% en la prueba de no elección). Esto resultó en el índice más bajo de actividad de oviposición (–0.9) y al mayor nivel de reducción de puesta de huevos (3.3 huevos diarios por hembra). En la evaluación de la actividad ovicida de los extractos de plantas sobre C. sinensis, W. chinensis causó una disminución de la tasa de eclosión (< 60%) a concentraciones de 0.01 g·mL-1 y 0.1 g·mL-1. Estos resultados prometores sugieren que las sustancias secundarias de L. camara y W. chinensis tienen actividades efectivas de prevención de oviposición y ovicidas para C. sinensis, y que estas sustancias tienen un potencial como protectores de plantas para las frutas del litchi y del ojo de dragón.

Key Words: fecundity; litchi; longan

View this article in BioOne https://doi.org/10.1653/024.102.0202

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Published

2019-07-28

Issue

Vol. 102, No. 2 (June 2019)

Section

Research Papers

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