Bioactivity of Three Plants' Essential Oils Against Aphis glycines

Abstract

This research represents a forward step in the control of Aphis glycines. Essential oils from Acorus tatarinowii, Mentha haplocalyx, and Stemona japonica were studied for repellency and anti-molting activities. For the laboratory choice-experiment, of two soybean plants with 4 to 6 leaves each, one was treated with either a single or a mixture of essential oils, while the other was treated with a control solution. The plants were then placed in a cage and twenty aphids were released between the two plants. For no-choice tests, only one plant, treated with essential oil, was placed in the center of a cage and 20 aphids were released around the plant. Viable aphid numbers on plants were recorded at 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours after initiating each test. After 36 hours of observation, numbers of exuviae around the plant were recorded in the no-choice test. In the greenhouse experiment, two potted faba bean plants were used. Five mL of essential oil was sprayed on one plant, and 5 mL of control solution on the other plant. One hundred adult aphids were released into each cage between the two plants. Repellency was observed at 12 and 24 hours of exposure. A mixture of A. tatarinowii plus S. japonica oils demonstrated maximum repellency in both lab (71.25 ± 3.50%) and greenhouse (85.61 ± 1.56). Anti-molting activities were observed when the essential oil of S. japonica was used. Results suggest that a mixture of A. tatarinowii and S. japonica essential oils are effective at controlling A. glycine.