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Behavior-modifying and insecticidal effects of plant extracts on adults of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera Tephritidae)

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Abstract

The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata is a major pest of fruit orchards worldwide. In order to develop control methods based on natural products, particularly required in organic farming, a laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the response of adults to leaf extracts from four plant species: Ruta graveolens, Eriobotrya japonica, Rubus ulmifolius, and Ficus carica. Air-dried leaf powders were subjected to an ethanolic cold extraction. Chemical composition was assessed by GC/MS analysis. Extracts were tested in laboratory bioassays to assess the electroantennographic (EAG) response, attraction/repellence toward ovipositing females, and induced mortality toward adults. Among the extracts tested, only R. graveolens elicited significant differences compared to the control in all the bioassays. This extract, whose main volatile compounds were 2-nonanone and 2-undecanone (45% of the total), recorded the greatest EAG response, and stimulated a positive oviposition response compared to the control. Ruta graveolens extract elicited a significant insecticidal activity, confirmed to be dose-dependent. LD50 and LD90 concentrations were 3.64 and 6.01% (v/v), respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting a single plant extract, from R. graveolens, acting as attractant and oviposition stimulant, and at the same time having insecticidal properties toward C. capitata adults. The incorporation of such extract or its components into food bait could be useful in medfly “attract and kill” control strategies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Prof. Stefano Colazza, Head of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Science of the University of Palermo, for his critical review of an early version of the manuscript. The authors are also grateful to the PhD student, Mokhtar Abdulsattar Arif, for his helpful assistance during the EAG tests and to John Borg (Senior Curator at Heritage Malta), who revised the English language.

Funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Doctoral School of the University of Carthage, that funded the PhD grant of M. Ghabbari carried out in the Laboratory of Biotechnology Applied to Agriculture (INRAT) (tutor Dr. J. Mediouni-Ben Jemâa), and by the University of Palermo, Italy, where the present research was carried out (tutor Dr. G. Lo Verde).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021, Zarzouna, Bizerte, Tunisia

    Mabrouka Ghabbari

  2. Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Science, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Edificio 5, 90128, Palermo, Italy

    Salvatore Guarino, Virgilio Caleca, Filippo Saiano, Milko Sinacori & Gabriella Lo Verde

  3. CIHEAM-IAMB - International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, Bari, Italy

    Nuray Baser

  4. Laboratory of Biotechnology Applied to Agriculture, INRAT, University of Carthage, Rue Hedi Karray, 1004, El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia

    Jouda Mediouni-Ben Jemâa

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  1. Mabrouka Ghabbari
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  2. Salvatore Guarino
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  3. Virgilio Caleca
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  4. Filippo Saiano
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  6. Nuray Baser
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  8. Gabriella Lo Verde
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Correspondence to Gabriella Lo Verde.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of insects were followed.

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Communicated by M.B. Isman.

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Ghabbari, M., Guarino, S., Caleca, V. et al. Behavior-modifying and insecticidal effects of plant extracts on adults of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera Tephritidae). J Pest Sci 91, 907–917 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-018-0952-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-018-0952-6

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