Screening of Extracts of Leaves and Stems of Psychotria spp. (Rubiaceae) against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) for Maize Protection

• Published in: Journal of food protection 2013-11, Vol.76 (11), p.1892-1901
• Main Authors: Tavares, Wagner de Souza, Grazziotti, Geisel Hudson, Souza Júnior, Amauri Alves de, Freitas, Silvia, Consolaro, Hélder Nagai, Ribeiro, Paulo Eduardo de Aquino, Zanuncio, José Cola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Body weight; Brazil; cerrado; Coleoptera; Corn; economics; ecosystems; Females; Flowers & plants; Food industries; Food Preservation - methods; Food safety; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grain; Hatching; head; Humidity; Insecticides; Insecticides - pharmacology; Insects; Integrated pest management; Laboratories; Leaves; Mann-Whitney U test; Metabolites; mortality; Pest control; Pesticides; Pests; Plant extracts; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant protection; Plant Stems - chemistry; Psychotria; Psychotria - chemistry; screening; Secondary metabolites; Sitophilus zeamais; Spodoptera - growth & development; Spodoptera frugiperda; Stems; Toxicity; Variance analysis; Weevils - growth & development; Zea mays; Zea mays - parasitology
• ISSN: 0362-028X; 1944-9097
• DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-123

Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are important economic pests of corn, Zea mays (Poaceae). Psychotria spp. (Rubiaceae) plants are rich in secondary metabolites that could be toxic against such pests. We have screened extracts from four species of Psychotria abundant in the Cerrado (Savannah-type) biome of Brazil for the toxicity to two insects. We found that extracts from leaves and stems had significant effects on the hatching rate, parameters of caterpillar body (weight and length and width of head capsule), repellency, and mortality of these two pests, although the effects varied according to the Psychotria species and plant source (stem or leaf). Extracts of the stems of Psychotria hoffmannseggiana and of Psychotria capitata were more toxic to S. zeamais and the stems of Psychotria goyazensis to S. frugiperda; therefore, such extracts could have the potential for use in integrated pest management schemes.