Abstract
Dried alfalfa (Medicago sativa) leaf tissue incorporated in artificial diet to give a final concentration of 0.5 or 1.6 mg/g fresh weight of saponins significantly inhibited growth and development of larvae of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis). Saponin fractions isolated from root or shoot tissues of alfalfa also inhibited growth when incorporated at equivalent concentrations but had little effect on development. Root saponins were somewhat more harmful than shoot saponins.
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Nozzolillo, C., Arnason, J.T., Campos, F. et al. Alfalfa Leaf Saponins and Insect Resistance. J Chem Ecol 23, 995–1002 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006384.60488.94
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006384.60488.94