Leaf Extracts of Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana (Melastomataceae) Prevent the Feeding and Oviposition of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Abstract

Sustainability in food production is an increasingly discussed issue nowadays; therefore, demands for research that can reduce production costs and ensure the quality and autonomy of production are relevant, with attention to the use of plants due to their importance in biodiversity. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the bioactivity, feeding preference, and oviposition preference of Miconia albicans botanical extracts at concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10% against Plutella xylostella. We observed reduced larval duration, larval survival, female hatching success, and repellence of oviposition and feeding for all concentrations. For higher concentrations, the extracts showed a larval mortality rate of 58%, a feeding reduction of 82%, and an oviposition reduction of 94%, showing potential for pest control. Phytochemical analyses identified phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins, which are substances with repellent and larvicidal properties. This is the first report on the phytosanitary potential of M. albicans, showing that the plant has both lethal and sublethal effects on P. xylostella.

Potential of Achyrocline satureioides Ethanolic Extract in the Control of Spodoptera littoralis

“…Quercetin, on the other hand, is a flavonoid known for its significance in the production of bioinsecticides. Its role in plant metabolism has been associated with a defense mechanism that alters the palatability and nutritional value of the plant, reducing its attractiveness to insects [15,16]. This suggests that the extracts possess an inhibitory effect on the feeding behavior of this caterpillar.…”