Repellency, Toxicity, Gene Expression Profiling and In Silico Studies to Explore Insecticidal Potential of Melaleuca alternifolia Essential Oil against Myzus persicae.

Talha Chohan,Haiqun Cao,Lijun Zhou,Liao Min,Qianqian Yang,Tahir Chohan

doi:10.3390/toxins10110425

Talha Chohan, Haiqun Cao + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins10110425

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Abstract

In the current study, deterrent assay, contact bioassay, lethal concentration (LC) analysis and gene expression analysis were performed to reveal the repellent or insecticidal potential of M. alternifolia oil against M. persicae. M. alternifolia oil demonstrated an excellent deterrence index (0.8) at 2 g/L after 48 h. The oil demonstrated a pronounced contact mortality rate (72%) at a dose of 4 g/L after 24 h. Probit analysis was performed to estimate LC-values of M. alternifolia oil (40%) against M. persicae (LC30 = 0.115 g/L and LC50 = 0.37 g/L respectively) after 24 h. Furthermore, to probe changes in gene expression due to M. alternifolia oil contact in M. persicae, the expression of HSP 60, FPPS I, OSD, TOL and ANT genes were examined at doses of LC30 and LC50. Four out of the five selected genes—OSD, ANT, HSP 60 and FPPS I—showed upregulation at LC50, whereas, TOL gene showed maximum upregulation expression at LC30. Finally, the major components of M. alternifolia oil (terpinen-4-ol) were docked and MD simulated into the related proteins of the selected genes to explore ligand–protein modes of interactions and changes in gene expression. The results show that M. alternifolia oil has remarkable insecticidal and deterrent effects and also has the ability to affect the reproduction and development in M. persicae by binding to proteins.

Highlights

Pests, including weeds, pathogens and insects, are the tangible contestants of agricultural crops, and are responsible for 20–50% of total losses in crop production [1]
We have examined the effect of essential oil on the expression of five genes (HSP 60, FPPS I, OSD, TOL and ANT) in M. persicae
The phytochemical analysis (GC-MS) of M. alternifolia oil has revealed the presence of terpinen-4-ol (40.09%) and γ-terpinene (21.85%) as major components

Summary

Introduction

Pests, including weeds, pathogens and insects, are the tangible contestants of agricultural crops, and are responsible for 20–50% of total losses in crop production [1]. M. persicae (Green Peach Aphid) damage crops in three main ways, including through catering on crops, transmitting pathogenic viruses to plants, and by secreting honeydew, leading to secondary fungal infection and suppression of photosynthesis [3]. The prime attention of insecticide researchers has been shifted towards identification and development of alternative green chemistries containing novel phytochemicals and biochemical targets implicated in pest control and resistance management [6]. Identifying some plant-based essential oils with anti-insect potential against these resistant insects may represent an alternate and safer M. persicae management strategy

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