Use of Schinus molle (Anacardiaceae) as a means of biological control against Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

Greenhouse whiteflies, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, are very small sucker-whipper-type pests of the family Aleyrodidae. They cause considerable damage to greenhouse crops in the first order and show resistance to chemical insecticides. In this context, we dedicated this study to the control of this pest through the active ingredients extracted from the leaf and fruit part of the pepper tree, Schinus molle by inhibiting the chemosensory protein responsible mainly for capturing external stimuli in these polyphagous insects. By applying molecular modeling methods, including molecular docking, using software Molegro Virtual Docker version 2012.5.5.0, we tested the bioinsecticide potency of seven inhibitors. The results obtained show that the molecule beta- elemol is the best chemosensory protein inhibitor with a score of –82.6648 Kcal/mol and that it forms strong bonds with the active site amino acids of the protein.