Insecticidal activities of long pepper (Piper retrofractum Vahl) fruit extracts against seed beetles (Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius, Callosobruchus chinensis Linnaeus, and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) and their effects on seed germination

Abstract

Bruchid beetles (Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis), and maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) are important insect pests during the postharvest period. Botanical insecticide is an alternative solution for controlling these insects, and long pepper (Piper retrofractum) has been reported as having insecticidal potential against general insect pests. Film seed coatings with various concentrations of hexane extracts were made for mung bean (Vigna radiata) and corn (Zea mays) seeds. Insecticidal activities of these treatments were assessed at before and after storage period of six months, and seed germination was also evaluated. The hexane extract was subjected to analysis of the bioactive components by using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Results revealed that the hexane extract presented extreme toxicity to both bruchid beetles higher compared to maize weevil at 24 h with LC50 values of 5.57–6.75 and 58.04 μg⋅cm−2, respectively. Bruchid beetles presented significant response to ethanol, acetone and hexane extracts, whereas maize weevil showed relatively low responsibility. Film seed coating with hexane extract at 1% and 3% concentrations with six-month storage presented high insecticidal activity against bruchid beetles by more than 88% mortality but had low kill rates against maize weevil. The coated mung bean seeds presented non-seed germination effect, whereas high effect was observed on coated corn. Isolation of bioactive components demonstrated that there were 74 compounds, where pentadecane was the main compound. Film seed coating technology for mung bean seed preservation by using 1% hexane extract from long pepper fruit presented to be an extremely effective method to control bruchid beetles without any seed germination effect. It could serve as one of the green insecticides of the future.