Essential oils on the control of melon leafminer

Abstract

Studies on the effect of essential oils for the control of melon leaf miner adults (Liriomyza trifolii Burgess) and the phytoxicity on melon plants (Cucumis melo L.) were carried out under green house and laboratory experiments with the aim to find the effectivity of essential oils to control this pest. Essential oils (treatments) used in the tests belonged to the following plant species: Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum kilimandshanicum, Lippia alba, Ocimum gratissimum, Cymbopogon citratus, Ocimum micrantum, Lippia sidoides, Pipper aduncum, Citrus sinensis, Ocimum selloi and water as the control. In addition, two mixtures were evaluated: Mix 1 (Ocimum selloi + Pipper aduncum) and Mix 2 (Ocimum kilimandshanicum + Ocimum gratissimum). Each essential oil evaluated had the following dilutions: 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 3.0%, 5.0%, 7.0%, and 10.0%. The dilution 0.125% of Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum kilimandshanicum, Ocimum seloi, Cimbopogon citratus, Lippia alba, Peper aduncum and Mix 2 presented the best results by not causing any phytotoxicity damage to melon leaves. The other dilutions were significantly different from the pattern water. As result, the essential oil of the species Ocimum kilimandshanicum with 0.125% caused 100.0% of mortality to melon leaf miner adults and it did not cause any phytotocixity damage to melon leaves. Therefore, these results suggest that this essential oil presents a high potential to be a future commercially friendly product against melon leaf miner pest.