Peppermint Essential Oil Toxicity to the Pear Psylla (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and Potential Applications in the Field

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 1307-1314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyi Li ◽  
Baoliang Tian

Abstract Chinese pear psylla (Cacopsylla chinensis Yang et Li) is a serious orchard pest that causes declines in fruit quality through feeding damage and the spread of pathogens. The rapid development of chemical pesticide resistance has become a severe problem in controlling pear psylla. Thus, the development of natural pesticides to replace conventional chemical pesticides is urgently needed. Here, we found that the essential oil of peppermint (Mentha haplocalyx Briq. [Lamiales: Labiatae]) is an ideal agent for controlling pear psylla based on experiments in the laboratory and the field. The major constituents of peppermint essential oil were found including menthol (49.73%), menthone (30.52%), α-pinene (3.60%), and α-terpineol (3.81%). This oil and chemicals in it performed serious contact toxicity against the winter-form adults and nymphs of pear psylla, yielding LD50 values of 2.54, 10.71, 2.77, 5.85, and 12.58 μg/adult and 1.91, 9.56, 2.18, 4.98, and 12.07 μg/nymph, respectively. Furthermore, the essential oil strongly repelled the adults of pear psylla with 78% repellence at the highest concentration tested in a Y-tube olfactometer in the laboratory. The combined effect of the two factors made peppermint essential oil a natural pesticide, which achieved a maximum reduction of round to 80.9% in winter-form adult population and round to 67.0% in nymph population at the concentration of 4.0 ml/L in the field. Additionally, it had no effect on the natural enemies of pear psylla in the field. Therefore, peppermint essential oil has potential as an alternative to chemical pesticides for pest control in integrated pest management programs in pear orchards.

Author(s):  
Won Ju Hwang ◽  
Ji Sun Ha ◽  
Mi Jeong Kim

Background: Scoping reviews of the literature on the development and application of mental health apps based on theoretical suggestions are lacking. This study systematically examines studies on the effects and results of mental health mobile apps for the general adult population. Methods: Following PICOs (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design), a general form of scoping review was adopted. From January 2010 to December 2019, we selected the effects of mental health-related apps and intervention programs provided by mobile to the general adult population over the age of 18. Additionally, evaluation of methodological quality was assessed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) checklist. Results: Fourteen studies were analyzed of 1205 that were identified; duplicate and matching studies were excluded. One was a descriptive study and 13 were experimental, of which randomized control trials (RCTs) accounted for 71.4%. Four of the mobile apps were developed based on cognitive behavior theory, one based on stress theory, and one on ecological instant intervention theory. These apps included breathing training, meditation, and music therapy. Stress, depression, and anxiety decreased using these apps, and some were effective for well-being. Conclusion: With the rapid development of technology related to mental health, many mobile apps are developed, but apps based on theoretical knowledge and well-designed research are lacking. Further research and practices should be conducted to develop, test, and disseminate evidence-based mHealth for mental health promotion. RCT studies are needed to expand the application to mental health services to various populations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Byrne ◽  
Matthew G. Iadanza ◽  
Marcos Arribas Perez ◽  
Daniel P. Maskell ◽  
Rachel M. George ◽  
...  

AbstractInsect pests are a major cause of crop losses worldwide, with an estimated economic cost of $470 billion annually. Biotechnological tools have been introduced to control such insects without the need for chemical pesticides; for instance, the development of transgenic plants harbouring genes encoding insecticidal proteins. The Vip3 (vegetative insecticidal protein 3) family proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis convey toxicity to species within the Lepidoptera, and have wide potential applications in commercial agriculture. Vip3 proteins are proposed to exert their insecticidal activity through pore formation, though to date there is no mechanistic description of how this occurs on the membrane. Here we present cryo-EM structures of a Vip3 family toxin in both inactive and activated forms in conjunction with structural and functional data on toxin–membrane interactions. Together these data demonstrate that activated Vip3Bc1 complex is able to insert into membranes in a highly efficient manner, indicating that receptor binding is the likely driver of Vip3 specificity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2199019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Stappen ◽  
Juergen Wanner ◽  
Nurhayat Tabanca ◽  
Ulrich R. Bernier ◽  
Paul E. Kendra

Blue tansy essential oil (BTEO) ( Tanacetum annuum L.) was analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID using two different capillary column stationary phases. Sabinene (14.0%), camphor (13.6%), myrcene (8.0%), β-pinene (7.7%), and chamazulene (6.9%) were the main components using an SE52 column (non-polar). On a polar CW20M phase column, sabinene (15.1%), camphor (14.4%), α-phellandrene (7.9%), β-pinene (7.7%), and myrcene (6.9%) were the most abundant compounds. To assess the oil for potential applications in integrated pest management strategies, behavioral bioassays were conducted to test for repellency against yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, and for attractant activity for Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata. Results showed that BTEO was not effective in repelling Ae. aegypti (minimum effective dosage [MED]: 0.625 ± 0.109 mg/cm2 compared with the standard insect repellent DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). In assays with male C. capitata, BTEO displayed mild attraction compared with two positive controls (essential oils from tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia and African ginger bush Tetradenia riparia). Additional studies are needed to identify the specific attractant chemicals in BTEO and to determine if they confer a synergistic effect when combined with other known attractants for C. capitata. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first investigation of BTEO for repellency against the mosquito vector Ae. aegypti and for attractancy to C. capitata, a major agricultural pest worldwide.


Author(s):  
Shanshan Gao ◽  
Haidi Sun ◽  
Jiahao Zhang ◽  
Yonglei Zhang ◽  
Peipei Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Uridine diphosphate glucosyltransferases (UGTs), which are phase II detoxification enzymes, are found in various organisms. These enzymes play an important role in the detoxification mechanisms of plant allelopathy and in insects. Artemisia vulgaris L. (Asterales: Asteraceae: Artemisia) essential oil has strong contact toxicity to Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae. However, the effect of A. vulgaris essential oil on UGTs is unclear. In this study, A. vulgaris essential oil was shown to significantly induce the expression of the TcUgt86Dg transcript. Furthermore, treatment of TcUgt86Dg-silenced individuals with A. vulgaris essential oil resulted in higher mortality than for the control individuals, indicating that TcUgt86Dg is involved in detoxification of A. vulgaris essential oil in T. castaneum. The developmental expression profile showed that the expression of TcUgt86Dg in late adults was higher than in other developmental stages. Furthermore, the expression profile in adult tissues revealed higher expression of TcUgt86Dg in the head, antenna, fat body, and accessory gland than in other tissues. These data show that TcUgt86Dg may be involved in the metabolism of exogenous toxins by T. castaneum; thus, our results have elucidated one possible mechanism of resistance to A. vulgaris essential oil and provide a theoretical basis for a control scheme for T. castaneum.


2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 7-21
Author(s):  
Modupe Ogunlesi ◽  
Wesley Okiei ◽  
Edith Ofor ◽  
Anthony Eniola

Adenia cissampeloides (Planch. ex Hook.) Harms is used in alternative medicine primarily for the management of hypertension and several other diseases. Isolation and GC-MS analysis of five essential oils collected fractionally and over 4 h by hydrodistillation from the dried leaves were carried out. The constituents included phytol, α-linolenic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, (13S)-8,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene, kaur-16-ene, guaiol, α-gurjunene, and α-elemene. Several bioactivities of the constituents as well as their potential applications in medicine and the pharmaceutical and pesticidal industries are discussed. Essential oils from some other plants have several constituents in common with those isolated from A. cissampeloides. The bioactivities of such plants are used to suggest other possible applications of A. cissampeloides.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 18141-18147
Author(s):  
Sunil Wijethilaka ◽  
Lakshani S. Weerasekara ◽  
Saumya Bandara ◽  
Kithsiri B. Ranawana

In earlier times, human-monkey interactions were not a severe problem in Sri Lanka, but has recently intensified as a result of habitat fragmentation and urbanization.  Due to these changes, Semnopithecus vetulus nestor has been listed among the 25 most Endangered primates.  The objective of our study was to evaluate the intensity of human-S.v. nestor negative interaction by identifying the crop and property damages in villages bordering Danawkanda Forest (7.001N & 80.049E), Gampaha, Sri Lanka.  We collected data using structured questionnaires interviewing households (N= 80) bordering the Danawkanda Forest from August 2014 to January 2015.  Households were most affected by damage to fruits, leaves, and buds of commercially important trees (93%), followed by damage to roof tiles (76%), and frightful confrontations with the monkeys (43%).  Average monthly loss per household from crop and property damage was estimated at between (Sri Lankan Rupees) LKR 2,700 and LKR 1,500.  Lighting firecrackers was the most common method used by the residents (99%) to deter monkeys, where as electrified barriers were rarely used (4%).  Households in close proximity to Danawkanda Forest experienced a considerable loss to their monthly income due to crop and property damage, compared to households further away.  As an alternative, residents now grow ornamental plants and short trees, eliminating the structures that attract and facilitate damage by S.v. nestor.  Awareness and active participation of residents, authorized government, and non-governmental organizations are needed to manage unplanned construction and agriculture plot extensions into the forest.  These two factors trigger the human-wildlife negative interactions in general and are not limited just to monkeys.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Xiao-Meng Wei ◽  
Shan-Shan Guo ◽  
Hua Yan ◽  
Xian-Long Cheng ◽  
Feng Wei ◽  
...  

Essential oils obtained from many plants showed various kinds of insecticidal properties; some of them have been considered as alternative insecticides for pest control. The present study was aimed at determining the chemical composition of the essential oil from the roots of Bupleurum bicaule Helm, as well as evaluating the contact and repellent activities of the oil and four identified compounds against Lasioderma serricorne and Liposcelis bostrychophila adults. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation, and its components were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 26 components were determined and the main compounds included trans-2-isopropylbicyclo[4.3.0]non-3-en-8-one (25.9%), 4,5-dimethyl-1,2,3,6,7,8,8a,8b-octahydrobiphenylene (23.5%), and 1,4-dimethoxy-2-tert-butylbenzene (4.3%). It was found that the essential oil exhibited contact toxicity against L. serricorne (LD50 = 11.91 μg/adult), but the contact toxicity against L. bostrychophila could not be observed. The essential oil also showed strong repellent activity against L. serricorne with percent repellency of 100% at 78.63 nl/cm2. Four chemical compounds, 1,4-dimethoxy-2-tert-butylbenzene, bornyl acetate, (2E,4E)-2,4-nonadienal, and β-bisabolene, exhibited various levels of bioactivities. The experimental results indicated that the essential oil of B. bicaule and its individual compounds could be used in insecticidal and repellent strategies for stored product insects.


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