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Title: Effect of gossypol and gossypol related compounds on mulberry pyralid (diaphania pyloalis walker, lepidoptera: pyralidae), a pest of the Mulberry Tree

Author
item TASHPULATOVA, B - INSTITUTE OF PLANT PROT.
item MUKHAMEDALIEVA, S - INSTITUTE OF PLANT PROT.
item Dowd, Michael
item TALIPOV, S - INSTI. OF BIOORGANIC CHEM
item IBRAGIMOV, B - INSTI. OF BIOORGANIC CHEM

Submitted to: Uzbek Biological Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2009
Publication Date: 3/1/2009
Citation: Tashpulatova, B., Mukhamedalieva, S., Dowd, M.K., Talipov, S., Ibragimov, B.T. 2009. Effect of gossypol and gossypol related compounds on mulberry pyralid (diaphania pyloalis walker, lepidoptera: pyralidae), a pest of the Mulberry Tree. Uzbek Biological Journal. No. 2:3-7.

Interpretive Summary: Gossypol, a natural product of the cotton plant, and two related compounds were tested for inhibitory activity against the mulberry pyralid, an insect that causes damage to trees grown for silk production. All three compounds were found to inhibit the cycle of development of this insect. The work will be of interest to researchers and other trying to develop natural product-based alternatives to chemical insecticides.

Technical Abstract: Gossypol, gossypurpurin and diaminogossypol were tested for inhibitory effects against feeding mulberry pyralid larvae (Diaphania pyloalis Walker, Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The inclusion of very low concentrations of these compounds (10, 50 or 100 µmoles/g) in artificial diets increased the number of days required for larvae to reach pupation and decreased the weight of the pupae. Among the two control diets, larvae fed on mulberry leaves went to pupation earlier than larvae fed on the artificial diet. All three compounds inhibited the development of mulberry pyralid, with the greatest effect being caused by diaminogossypol. The compounds also increased larvae mortality. However, increased mortality was only apparent after 15 days of treatment. All three compounds resulted in deformed pupae that were not able to reach adult stage.