Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oil from Coriandrum sativum Seeds against Tribolium confusum and Callosobruchus maculatus.

Abbas Khani,Tahere Rahdari

doi:10.5402/2012/263517

Abstract

The biological activity of essential oil extracted from coriander, Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae), seeds against adults of Tribolium confusum Duval (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) was investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. Fumigant toxicity was assessed at 27 ± 1°C and 65 ± 5% R.H., in dark condition. Dry seeds of the plant were subject to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The composition of essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The predominant components in the oil were linalool (57.57%) and geranyl acetate (15.09%). The mortality of 1–7-day-old adults of the insect pests increased with concentration from 43 to 357 μL/L air and with exposure time from 3 to 24 h. In the probit analysis, LC50 values (lethal concentration for 50% mortality) showed that C. maculatus (LC50 = 1.34 μL/L air) was more susceptible than T. confusum (LC50 = 318.02 μL/L air) to seed essential oil of this plant. The essential oil of C. sativum can play an important role in stored grain protection and reduce the risks associated with the use of synthetic insecticides.

Highlights

The global pest-harvest grain losses by insect damage and other bioagents range from 10% to 40%
Aromatic plants are among the most efficient insecticides of botanical origin and essential oils often constitute the bioactive fraction of plant extracts [3]
Callosobruchus maculatus and Tribolium confusum were reared in plastic containers (20 cm length, 14 cm diameter and 8 cm height) containing bean grain and wheat flour mixed with yeast (10 : 1, w/w), respectively, which were covered by a fine mesh cloth for ventilation

Summary

Introduction

The global pest-harvest grain losses by insect damage and other bioagents range from 10% to 40%. Methods used to control stored grain insect pest included physical, chemical, and biological treatments [1]. Chemicals largely used as pesticides in crop protection could have undesirable effects such as ozone depletion, environmental pollution, toxicity to nontarget organism, pest resistance, and pesticide residues, in addition to direct toxicity to users [1]. The development of bio insecticides has been focused as viable pest control strategy in recent years [2, 3]. Plants may provide potential alternative to currently used insect-control agents because they constitute a rich source of bioactive chemicals [4]. Aromatic plants are among the most efficient insecticides of botanical origin and essential oils often constitute the bioactive fraction of plant extracts [3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion