EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Prosopis juliflora ON THE CONTROL OF THE MITE Tetranychus bastosi IN PHYSIC NUT

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency, phytotoxicity and residual effect of the aqueous extract of leaves of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC (Fabaceae) for Tetranychus bastosi Tuttle, Baker & Sales (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae). For the evaluation of the control efficiency, physic nut plants were infested with 30 adult mite females and after 12 days were sprayed with the lethal concentrations (m/v) of the extract (LC50 = 53.45% or CL90 = 85.35%) and with distilled water (control), which corresponded to the treatments. After 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after application of the extract, two leaves of the lower, middle and upper third of the plants were sampled and the live mites were counted per treatment. The evaluation of the residual effect was done three, 24, 48, 96, 192 and 288 hours after spraying. To evaluate the phytotoxic effect of the extract, scores were given according to the intensity of the symptoms in the plants. Control efficiency was verified throughout the evaluated period, with an average of 81.67% for LC50 and 73.05% for LC90, with no significant difference between the evaluation intervals. The extract had a low residual effect on T. bastosi, but at the end of 12 days the average percentage of oviposition reduction of mite was 49.21% and 68.86% for LC50 and LC90, respectively. The plants did not present phytotoxicity. P. juliflora extract presents potential for the alternative control of T. bastosi in physic nut due to its efficiency on the mortality of this mite, oviposition reduction of females and absence of phytotoxic effect in the plants.

The Potential of Piperidine Alkaloids-rich Extracts from Prosopis spp. to Combat Plant Pests and Diseases

“…In the countries where P. juliflora is introduced, it can become an insidious species [16,17] due to the allelochemicals present in the different tissues that can change the native ecosystem structure [14]. In traditional medicine, the leaves and bark have been employed to treat cold, sore throat, inflammation, digestive problems, skincare and wound healing [30][31][32] antibacterial [35][36][37], antifungal [30,38], antimites [39], and herbicidal [40] activities. Also, the pharmacological properties of its extracts, alkaloid fractions and compounds have been extensively reviewed [13,14,[41][42][43].…”

“…In nursery conditions, the aqueous leaf extract is efficient in the control of Tetranychus bastosi on Jatropha curcas at LC 50 and LC 90 values of 53.4% and 85.3%, respectively. Low residuality of the extract and absence phytotoxic effects were observed in J. curcas plants [39]. Aqueous leaf extract applied in the field can restrain the population of the green leafhopper (Nephotettix virescens), that transmits the rice tungro virus (RTV) in rice plants [94].…”

“…Counting of adult females and control efficiency on the fecundity and residual efficiency on the fecundity and mortality of adult females in Jatropha curcas plants under nursery conditions [39] Aqueous leaf extract Insecticidal against: Nephotettix virescens…”