EFFECT OF POTASSIUM NITRATE ON THE PRODUCTION OF RICININE BY Ricinus communis AND ITS INSECTICIDAL ACTIVITY AGAINST Spodoptera frugiperda

Abstract

The effect of four nitrogen levels (KNO3: 5, 10, 15 and 20 meq L-1) on the production of ricinine was studied using a semi-hydroponic system. The insecticidal activity of methanolic extracts of Ricinus communis L. leaves against Spodoptera frugiperda Smith larvae was also tested. A dosage – response relationship showed strong positive correlation (R2 = 0.92, P ≤ 0.05) between the nitrogen concentration in the hydroponic solution and ricinine percentage in leaves. A strong correlation (R2 = 0.94, P ≤ 0.05) was also shown for nitrogen content in tissues and ricinine percentage. The use of nitrogen in the form of KNO3 increased the production of ricinine, and it also affected mortality of S. frugiperda larvae. LC50 for ricine methanolic extracts of R. communis leaves on S. frugiperda were 13,469.12, 15,754.34, 16,046.11 and 18,155.75 mg mL-1 for nitrogen concentrations of 20, 15, 10 and 5 meq L-1 respectively. Increased nitrogen concentration in the hydroponic solution associated with increments in leaf area and ricinine concentration. This indicates that nitrogen concentration can be manipulated to improve production of this alkaloid, and the extracts used for crop protection.

Effect of Salicylic Acid in the Yield of Ricinine in Ricinus communis under Greenhouse Condition

“…In this work, the concentrations of the methanolic extracts were similar to those reported by Nebo et al [32], where the concentrations ranged from 0.92 to 1.58 mg g −1 . However, the values for the concentrations in this study were lower than those reported by Flores-Macías et al [29], which were between 9.17 and 18.25 µg mL −1 .…”

“…Flores-Macías et al [ 29 ] obtained a linearity of the calibration curve of ricinine standard of R 2 = 0.992 by HPLC, which exhibited a high correlation with different ricinine standard concentrations (2.0, 0.2, 0.02, 0.002, and 0 mg mL −1 ). In another investigation, Wang et al [ 30 ] reported R 2 values of 0.9992 and 0.9988 with HPLC and LC–MS, of the standard solution of ricinine with different standard concentrations (27.7, 13.8, 6.92, 3.46, 1.73, 0.87, 0.43, 0.22, 0.11, 0.05, and 0 µg mL −1 ) and (500, 250, 125, 62.5, 31.2, 15.6, 7.8, 3.9, 1.8 and 0 ng mL −1 ), respectively.…”

“…The ricinine concentrations in the control group were similar to those reported by Nebo et al [ 32 ] (1.3921 to 1.442 mg g −1 ) in leaves of the methanolic extract of R. communis . On the other hand, Flores-Macías et al [ 29 ] found concentrations in the methanolic extracts of areal parts of R. commuis (894, 101, 103 and 104.2 μg mL −1 ). In this work, the concentrations of the methanolic extracts were similar to those reported by Nebo et al [ 32 ], where the concentrations ranged from 0.92 to 1.58 mg g −1 .…”

Castor Seed Oil: A Promising Biomitecide for Sustainable Management of the Red Coffee Mite (Oligonychus ilicis) (McGregor, 1917) (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae)

“…Castor (Ricinus communis) has been described for its insecticidal/mitecidal capacity, presenting ricinine in its seed, a toxic alkaloid for mites and insects [14]. Castor seed oil was effective for controlling infestations of Mexican weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boh.)…”

“…and Diaphania nitidalis Cramer, 1782 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) [15] (Mushobozy, Nganilevanu, Ruheza, & Swella, 2009). Although castor seed oil has been described as a promising biopesticide [15,14,16], there are no studies of this oil in the control of O. ilicis, the red coffee mite.…”