Chemical composition and insecticidal properties of essential oils against diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.)

Abstract

Seven essential oils viz., Curcuma aromatica, Hedychium spicatum, Mentha piperita, M. spicata, M. longifolia, Cinnamomum camphora, and Cymbopogon flexuosus were evaluated for their insecticidal activities against the larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Results showed that M. longifolia was most toxic (LC₅₀=1.06 mg mL⁻¹) to second instar larvae of P. xylostella via residual toxicity bioassay followed by C. aromatica (LC₅₀=1.35 mg mL⁻¹) and M. piperita (LC₅₀=1.37 mg mL⁻¹). M. piperita and M. spicata showed promising repellent (RC₅₀=1.33 mg mL⁻¹) and feeding deterrence activity (66.07%) to third instar larvae, respectively.

Keywords:

• Aromatic plants
• chemical composition
• insecticidal properties
• larvicidal
• antifeedant
• repellency

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Director, CSIR–Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, for continuous support and for providing necessary facilities during the course of the study. The authors are thankful to Mrs. Vijaylata Pathania for contributing GC and GC/MS data. IHBT communication number for this article is 3697.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, India for funding the projects [BSC-0106 and BSC-0110].