Evaluation of chemical composition and toxicity of two essential oils against adults of Tribolium castaneum and Callosobruchus maculatus

Document Type : Research paper-Persian

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Abstract

Plant essential oils as low toxic agents to mammals and non-target insects have been used against diverse insect pests. The present study was conducted to determine the contact and fumigant toxicity of essential oils of Artemisia absinthium L. and Salvia pratensis L. against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Tenebrionidae) and Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Bruchidae) adults. Isooctyl phthalate (39.39%) and α-monopalmitin (16.71%) for A. absinthium and dodecane (30.42%) and tridecane (12.10%) for S. pratensis were identified as major components of essential oils by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Bioassays revealed that all essential oils had strong contact and fumigant toxicity on the experimental insects. Essential oil of A. absinthium with LC50 of 8.518 (10.033-7.093) µl/1 had significantly higher fumigant toxicity on T. castaneum than S. pratensis (LC50=12.539 (11.121-13.904) µl/1) after 72 h. In the case of C. maculatus because of overlapping of the confidence limits the observed difference was not significant. In contact toxicity of A. absinthium oil, T. castaneum with LC50=0.150 (0.117-0.196) µl/cm2 was more susceptible than C. maculatus with LC50=0.281 (0.230-0.356) µl/cm2. A direct relationship was observed between mortality rate and essential oil concentration and exposure time. Regarding the high toxicity of essential oils of A. absinthium and S. pratensis against T. castaneum and C. maculatus, it can be concluded that theses essential oils can be used in management of these insect pests.

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