Reconsidering Hydrosols as Main Products of Aromatic Plants Manufactory: The Lavandin (Lavandula intermedia) Case Study in Tuscany.

: The present work evaluates for the first time two Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) aromatic waters obtained from different plant organs, the flowers and the stems. Both extracts were analysed by GC-MS, which indicates semi-quantitative differences between the major metabolites including linalool, 1,8-cineole, camphor, linalyl acetate and 4-terpineol. 1H-NMR and LC-MS investigation confirmed the presence of these compounds. Moreover, behavioural tests with the food insect pest Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera Tenebrionidae) showed a good repellency for both hydrosols extracts with RD50 values of 3.6 and 3.3 µL cm-2 for the flowers and stems, respectively; at the higher concentrations, however, the hydrosol extract from the flowers is expected to be more effective than the one from the stems. The effect of the flowers and stems aromatic water of Lavandin on seed germination of Raphanus sativus was also evaluated. Results showed that seed germination was completely inhibited by flowers hydrolate, having a possible application as natural herbicide. The overall experience with these Lavandin extracts indicates the potential of improved hydrolates to become the main distillation products, rather than by-products, of the aromatic plants manufacturing; this stimulates further discussions about the potential positive impacts that such a shift could have in the context of ecopharmacognosy.

Comparative laboratory efficacy of novel botanical extracts against Tribolium castaneum.

BACKGROUND: Citrus sinensis, Allium sativum, Ocimum basilicum, Mentha spicata, Curcuma longa, Carica papaya, Andrographis paniculata, Azadirachta indica, Cymbopogon citratus and Acorus calamus were compared in the form of extracts of chloroform, hexane and aqueous media for their effectiveness in repelling Tribolium castaneum. Filter paper of 9 cm in diameter was cut into halves. Using a micro-pipette, each extract was applied to one half of the filter paper. The volume applied was kept constant at 0.6 mL per 30 cm2 . The filter paper was dried and reattached leaving a 0.5 cm gap between, in a Petri-plate. Ten adults of T. castaneum were introduced and the repellency was observed after 30, 60 and 180 min. RESULTS: The aqueous extract of C. papaya exhibited the highest repellency (82-97%) followed by that of garlic bulbs (aqueous extract) with 86.67% repellency. Further, gunny bags were sprayed separately using bottle sprayers with the two most effective extracts at a constant volume of 42 mL per 575 cm2 . These treated gunny bags were compared with malathion-treated gunny bags in the insect management unit. The observations were taken after 2, 8 and 24 h. Papaya leaf extract-treated gunny bags showed relative repellent activity similar to that of malathion-treated gunny bags after 24 h of treatment. Thus, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of aqueous extract of papaya leaves was performed. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that extract of papaya leaves containing 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (8.47% peak area) can be used as a repellent biopesticide. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Combination of gamma radiation and essential oils from medicinal plants in managing Tribolium castaneum contamination of stored products.

Effectiveness of management of insect infestation of stored products with essential oils as viable alternatives to synthetic insecticides can be enhanced with gamma radiation. We studied effects of sublethal doses of essential oils from Rosmarinus officinalis (L.) and Perovskia atriplicifolia (Benth) (safe natural insecticides) in combination with gamma radiation on mortality of adults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). The insects were subjected to two radiation doses and two concentrations of the essential oils in the air. This combined treatment increased the mortality, which was also 3-6 times higher than could be expected from the sum of the effects of each of the treatments. The synergistic effect was more pronounced in the case of R. officinalis (L.) than in the case of P. atriplicifolia (Benth). The experiments have shown that the known insecticidal effectiveness of the essential oils can be enhanced by preliminary irradiation. Possible approaches to implementation of the combined treatment are discussed.

Composition and toxic, repellent and feeding deterrent activity of essential oils against the stored-grain pests Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

BACKGROUND: The composition and bioactivity of essential oils from Tagetes terniflora Kunth, Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. and Elyonurus muticus (Spreng) Kuntz were evaluated against stored-grain pests. RESULTS: Fumigant and contact toxicities were observed with T. terniflora on adults of both pests. In contact toxicity, this oil was less toxic to Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Essential oils from C. citratus and E. muticus showed contact toxicity on S. oryzae. All essential oils produced: (a) repellency on larvae and adults of T. castaneum and adults of Sitophilus oryzae (L.); (b) post-ingestive toxicity on T. castaneum larvae and S. oryzae adults and alteration of nutritional index on T. castaneum and S. oryzae adults. Cymbopogon citratus reduced the relative growth rate and the efficiency of conversion of ingested food in T. castaneum larvae. Tagetes terniflora produced a feeding stimulant effect in T. castaneum adults. In addition, they had a feeding deterrent action against S. oryzae adults. The composition of essential oils from C. citratus and E. muticus varied only in one component. CONCLUSION: These results showed that the essential oils from T. terniflora, C. citratus and E. muticus should be studied further for their use in integrated pest management programmes for T. castaneum and S. oryzae control.

Feeding deterrents from Aconitum episcopale roots against the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

The screening for insecticidal principles from several Chinese medicinal herbs showed that the ethanol extract of Aconitum episcopale roots possessed significant feeding deterrence against the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum . From the ethanol extract, six feeding deterrents were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation. The compounds were identified as chasmanine, crassicauline A, karacoline, sachaconitine, talatisamine, and yunaconitine from their spectroscopic data. Chasmanine, talatisamine, karacoline, and sachaconitine exhibited feeding deterrent activity against T. castaneum adults, with EC(50) values of 297.0, 342.8, 395.3, and 427.8 ppm, respectively. Yunaconitine and crassicauline A also possessed feeding deterrent activity against T. castaneum adults, with EC(50) values of 653.4 and 1134.5 ppm, respectively.

Relationship between population growth of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum and protein and carbohydrate content in flour and starch.

The effects of eight diets (atta flour, wheat flour, self-rising flour, rice flour, custard powder, corn flour, tapioca starch, and potato starch) on the development of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), reared at 29-31 degrees C and 66-70% RH were assessed. Five pairs of male and female T. castaneum were reared on the respective diets for 28 d before the experimental setup was dismantled and adult counts were recorded. In another experiment, the insects were allowed to mate and oviposit in each flour or starch type over a period of 7 d before being removed. The counting of pupae and adult emergence began on the day of emergence and was continued on a daily basis until day 140. Proximate analysis was performed for chemical composition of each diet, and the numbers of new adults that developed were found to be positively correlated (r2 = 0.97; P < 0.05) with the protein content and negatively correlated (r2 = 0.93; P < 0.05) with the carbohydrate content. For T. castaneum, the suitable diets were ranked as follows: atta flour > wheat flour > self-rising flour > rice flour > custard powder > corn flour > tapioca starch > potato starch. T. castaneum larval development to the pupal and adult stages developed significantly faster in atta flour (P < 0.05) than in the other diets, and the greatest number of progeny was produced from beetles reared on atta flour. Fewer adults emerged from wheat flour, self-rising flour, and rice flour, and no new emergences were recorded for the remaining diets. Developmental rate was much slower in beetles reared on diets in which a low number in progeny was produced. These data illustrate that different diets can influence the sustainability of these insects and affect their development and growth.

Behavioural responses of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) to volatiles identified from dry cocoa beans.

New hybrid types of cocoa beans are attractive to insects in storage, however some of the insects feed little, if at all, on these beans compared to those of the traditional type (mixed genotypes). Based on a sniffing test using GCMS, differences in flavour volatiles in these types of beans have been determined and from these, six major volatiles of cocoa beans were selected for olfactometric analysis using a Pettersson olfactometer to determine which of them contributed to the attraction of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) to the cocoa beans. The behaviour of Tribolium was affected by dose of 2-phenyl ethanol, acetophenone, 3-methyl butyraldehyde, ethyl butyrate, ethyl 3-hydroxybutyrate and butyl 2-methacrylate. Compared to beans of the new hybrid varieties, beans of the traditional type cocoa contained less 3-methylbutyraldehyde but more ethyl butyrate and acetophenone. In future breeding programmes, reducing the amount of acetophenone and ethyl butyrate but increasing the amount of 3-methylbutyraldehyde in cocoa beans may deter Tribolium from feeding on beans in storage.