Fumigant toxicity of allyl isothiocyanate to populations of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum

Abstract

The phasing out of methyl bromide as a fumigant, the phosphine resistance problems in stored product insect-pests, and the ever-growing concerns with human health and environmental safety have been guiding the search of alternative fumigants. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is the main component of mustard oil with reported pesticide activity and potential as a fumigant of stored foodstuffs. The fumigant toxicity of AITC was assessed in adults of 18 populations of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebronidae). These populations were all susceptible to AITC with negligible variation among them. Two of these populations were further used to test the AITC susceptibility of eggs, larvae (early and late instars), and pupae of T. castaneum. All of the developmental stages of both populations were similarly susceptible to AITC. No cross-resistance between phosphine and AITC was observed. Despite the significant variation in body mass, respiration rate, and fitness among the populations of T. castaneum, they were not correlated with AITC susceptibility. Larvae and adult malformations were observed when larvae and pupae were exposed to AITC. These results show the potential of AICT as an alternative fumigant against stored product insects.

Phytochemicals from Ficus sycomorus L. leaves act as insecticides and acaricides

“…Volatile parts were found to cause a gradual increase in mortality with an increase in the concentration between 0.018 and 0.3% H. However, 100% adult mortality of S. oryzae, A. craccivora and T. urticae were recorded at 0.4% and above levels at 24 h of treatment. From the shown the contact or fumigant efficacy gained from several plants against different insects and mite species (Santos et al, 2011), until, no published data were available on the efficacy of volatiles from F. sycomorus leaves as insecticidal and acaricidal against S. oryzae, A. craccivora and T. urticae. The insecticidal and acaricidal of volatiles from F. sycomorus leaves is attributed mainly to its major compounds.…”

“…Among bioactive natural compounds, several plant essential oils and plant extracts considered to have an activity because of the presence of several chemicals that can exert their activities both as fumigants and by direct contact. These active insecticide, repellent, antifeedant, and insect growth regulatory properties (Santos et al, 2011;Safia and Aoumeur, 2011).…”

Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of COX II from <em>Sitophilus zeamais</em>, a Potential Action Site of AITC

“…Mitochondria of insect had been proved to be the main AITC's target. [12,34].Our research group found that AITC had a significantly effect on mitochondrial respiratory chain Cco of Sitophilus zeamais in vivo and in vitro [13]. ROS induced by AITC could further damage the mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to the defect of mitochondrial function.…”

Potentiality of botanical agents for the management of post harvest insects of maize: a review

“…Plants are the most efficient producers of secondary metabolites, that are used in defense against different insect pests (Isman and Akhtar 2007); particularly triterpenoids, iridoid glycosides which are responsible for insecticidal activities (Sharma 1995). Many researchers have worked on plant products as they provide unique mode of action (Koul and Dhaliwal 2001;Regnault-Roger et al 2005;Santos et al 2011) against storage insects due to their biodegradability, broad spectrum activity and sustainability.…”