Abstract
The avermectins are a new class of macrocyclic lactones derived from mycelia of the soil actinomycete, Streptomyces avermitilis (soil inhabiting which is ubiquitous in nature). These compounds were reported to be possessing insecticidal, acaricidal and nematicidal properties (Putter JG, Mac Connell FA, Preiser FA, Haidri AA, Rishich SS, Dybas RA. Experientia 37:963–964, 1981). They are commonly distributed in most of the cultivated soils and are in widespread use, especially as agents affecting plant-parasitic nematodes, mites and insect pests. The water solubility of avermectin B1 is approximately 6–8 ppb, and its leaching potential through many types of soil is extremely low. These physical properties also confer many advantages upon the use of avermectins as pesticides. Their rapid degradation in soil and poor leaching potential suggest that field applications would not result in persistent residues or contamination of ground water.
Avermectins offer an outstanding alternative to any of the available synthetic pesticides. Their novel mode of action, high potency and specific physico-chemical properties makes the avermectins excellent candidates for further insecticidal, acaricidal and nematicidal studies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Cabrera JA, Kiewnick S, Grimm C, Dababat AA, Sikora RA (2009) Efficacy of abamectin seed treatment on Pratylenchus zeae, Meloidogyne incognita and Heterodera schachtii. J Plant Dis Prot 116:124–128
Faske TR, Starr JL (2006) Sensitivity of Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis to Abamectin. J Nematol 38:240–244
Faske TR, Starr JL (2007) Cotton root protection from plant-parasitic nematodes by abamectin-treated seed. J Nematol 39:27–30
Garabedian S, Van Gundy SD (1983) Use of avermectins for the control of Meloidogyne incognita on tomatoes. J Nematol 15:503–510
Jansson RK, Rabatin S (1997) Curative and residual efficacy of injection applications of avermectins for control of plant-parasitic nematodes on banana. J Nematol 29:695–702
Jhansi Rani B, Jagan Mohan N (1997) Pest management in ornamental crops. In: Yadav IS, Choudhary ML (eds) Progresssive floriculture. House of Sarpan, Bangalore, pp 169–181
Monfort WS, Kirkpatrick TL, Long DL, Rideout S (2006) Efficacy of a novel nematicidal seed treatment against Meloidogyne incognita on cotton. J Nematol 38:245–249
Morton HV (1986) Modification of proprietary chemicals for increasing efficacy. J Nematol 18:123–128
Mrozik H, Eskola P, Linn BO, Lusi A, Shih M, Tischler M, Waksmunski FS, Wyvratt MJ, Hilton NJ, Anderson TE, Babu JR, Dybas RA, Preiser FA, Fisher MH (1989) Discovery of novel avermectins with unprecedented insecticidal activity. Experientia 45:315–316
Mujica N, Pravatiner M, Cisneros F (2000) Effectiveness of abamectin and plant-oil mixtures on eggs and larvae of the leaf miner fly, Liriomyza huidobrensis Blanchard. CIP Prog Rep 1999–2000:161–166
Nordmeyer D, Dickson DW (1981) Effect of oximecarbamates and organophosphates and one avermectin on the oxygen uptake of three Meloidogyne spp. J Nematol 13:452–453
Nordmeyer D, Dickson DW (1985) Management of Meloidogyne javanica, M. arenaria and M. incognita on flue-cured tobacco with organophosphate, carbamate and avermectin nematicides. Plant Dis 69:67–69
Parvatha Reddy P, Nagesh M (2002) Avermectins: isolation, fermentation, preliminary characterization and screening for nematicidal activity, Technical Bulletin 17. Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bangalore, 28 pp
Putter JG, Mac Connell FA, Preiser FA, Haidri AA, Rishich SS, Dybas RA (1981) Avermectins: novel class of insecticides, acaricides and nematicides from a soil microorganism. Experientia 37:963–964
Roberts PA, Matthews WC (1995) Disinfection alternatives for control of Ditylenchus dipsaci in garlic seed cloves. J Nematol 27:448–456
Sanderson JP, Zhang ZQ (1995) Dispersion, sampling, and potential for integrated control of two spotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) on greenhouse roses. J Econ Entomol 88:343–351
Sasser JN, Kirkpatrick TL, Dybas RA (1982) Efficacy of avermectins for root-knot control in tobacco. Plant Dis 66:691–693
Weintraub PG (2001) Effects of cyromazine and abamectin on the pea leaf miner Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) and its parasitoid Diglyphus isaea (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in potatoes. Crop Prot 3:207–213
Wright DJ, Birtle AJ, Corps AE, Dybas RA (1984a) Efficacy of avermectins against a plant parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Ann Appl Biol 103:465–470
Wright DJ, Birtle AJ, Roberts TJ (1984b) Triphasic locomotor response of a plant-parasitic nematode to avermectin: inhibition by the GABA antagonists bicuculline and picrotoxin. Parasitology 88:375–382
Zchori-Fein E, Roush RT, Sanderson JP (1994) Potential for integration of biological and chemical control of greenhouse whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) using Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and abamectin. Environ Entomol 23:1277–1282
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer India
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Reddy, P.P. (2012). Avermectins. In: Recent advances in crop protection. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0723-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0723-8_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi
Print ISBN: 978-81-322-0722-1
Online ISBN: 978-81-322-0723-8
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)