Abstract
BackgroundGlucosinolate breakdown products are volatile, therefore good candidates for insect fumigants. However, although they are insecticidal, the mode of action of such natural products is not clear. We studied the insecticidal effect of these compounds as fumigants, and monitored the production of carbon dioxide by the insects as a probe to the understanding of their mode of action.ResultsThe fumigation 24-h LC50 against the house fly (Musca domestica L.) of allyl thiocyanate, allyl isothiocyanate, allyl cyanide, and l-cyano-2-hydroxy-3-butene was 0.1, 0.13, 3.66, and 6.2 μg cm-3, respectively; they were 0.55, 1.57, 2.8, and > 19.60 μg cm-3, respectively, against the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica Fabricius). The fumigation toxicity of some of the glucosinolate products was very close to or better than that of the commercial insect fumigants such as chloropicrin (LC50: 0.08 and 1.3 μg cm-3 against M. domestica and R. dominica, respectively) and dichlorovos (LC50: < 0.02 and 0.29 μg cm-3 against M. domestica and R. dominica, respectively) in our laboratory tests. Significantly increased CO2 expiration was found in insects exposed to the vapor of allyl isothiocyanate, allyl thiocyanate and allyl isocyanate. Allyl isothiocyanate was also found to increase the CO2 expiration of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana L.).ConclusionsGlucosinolate breakdown products have potential as biodegradable and safe insect fumigants. They may act on the insect respiratory system in their mode of action.
Highlights
Glucosinolate breakdown products are volatile, good candidates for insect fumigants
We have found that some of the individual glucosinolate breakdown products from crambe were insecticidal toward M. domestica as potent fu
By exposing B. germanica to the fumes of the glucosinolate breakdown products AIC, allyl thiocyanate (ATC) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), we found that the CO2 production of this insect was significantly increased at each time interval (Tables 1 and 2, Fig. 2)
Summary
Glucosinolate breakdown products are volatile, good candidates for insect fumigants. They are insecticidal, the mode of action of such natural products is not clear. The chemical structures of the hydrolysis products (breakdown products) of glucosinolates vary depending on the precursors in different plant species, and different endogenous or exogenous fac-. Losses of 30% are common throughout large areas of the world [22]. Many chemical fumigants such as ethylene dibromide and methyl bromide that have been used to control these stored grain insects are being banned or facing phase-out.
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