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Title: Insecticidal and biting deterrent activity of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) essential oils and individual compounds against Stephanitis pyrioides and Aedes aegypti

Author
item ALI, ABBAS - University Of Mississippi
item MURPHY, CHRISTINE - Clemson University
item DEMIRCI, BETUL - Anadolu Universtiy
item Wedge, David
item Sampson, Blair
item KHAN, IKHLAS - University Of Mississippi
item BASER, HUSNU CAN - University Of Mississippi
item TABANCA, NURHAYAT - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2013
Publication Date: 2/2/2013
Citation: Ali, A., Murphy, C., Demirci, B., Wedge, D.E., Sampson, B., Khan, I.A., Baser, H., Tabanca, N. 2013. Insecticidal and biting deterrent activity of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) essential oils and individual compounds against Stephanitis pyrioides and Aedes aegypti. Pest Management Science. DOI 10.1002/ps.3518.

Interpretive Summary: Natural compounds are not only a source of new insecticides and insect repellents but also botanical chemical derivatives may be more environmentally friendly than chemicals. Rose-scented geranium, Pelargonium spp., essential oils from the cultivars ‘Bourbon’, ‘China’, ‘Egypt’ and cultivars ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’ and ‘Frensham’ from South Carolina were analyzed and one-hundred and thirty six compounds were identified from the five essential oils. essential oils and individual compounds were evaluated for their insecticidal activity against adult Azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioidest) and old 'yellow fever mosquioto' larvicidal activity and biting deterrent effects against Aedes aegypti (L). All five geranium oils were toxic to Azalea lace bug and four of these five were more potent than Malathion and Neem at a concentration of 10 ppm. Trans-nerolidol was the most toxic compound against 1-d-old 'yellow fever mosquioto' (Aedes aegypti) larvae followed by geraniol, citronellol and geranyl formate. Essential oil of cultivar ’Egypt’ showed the highest mosquito biting deterrent activity followed by geranium cultivars ‘Frensham’; ‘China’; ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’ and ‘Bourbon’ essential oils. Among pure compounds geranic acid showed activity similar to DEET.

Technical Abstract: Rose-scented geranium, Pelargonium spp., essential oils from the cultivars ‘Bourbon’, ‘China’, ‘Egypt’ and cultivars ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’ and ‘Frensham’ from South Carolina were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. One-hundred and thirty six compounds were identified from five essential oils, which constituted 85.5% to 99.7% of the oils. Essential oils and pure compounds were evaluated for their insecticidal activity against Stephanitis pyrioides and larvicidal and biting deterrent activity against Aedes aegypti. All five geranium oils were toxic to Stephanitis pyrioides and four of these five were more potent than Malathion and Neem at a concentration of 10 ppm. Trans-nerolidol (LD50 value=13.4 ppm) was the most toxic compound against 1-d-old Ae. aegypti larvae followed by geraniol (49.3 ppm), citronellol (49.9 ppm) and geranyl formate (58.5 ppm). Essential oil of cultivar ’Egypt’ at 100 µg/cm2 (BDI value= 0.8) showed the highest biting deterrent activity followed by cultivars ‘Frensham’ (BDI=0.76); ‘China’ (BDI=0.72); ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’ (BDI=0.63) and ‘Bourbon’ (BDI=0.45) essential oils. Among pure compounds geranic acid (BDI=0.99) showed activity similar to DEET. Essential oils and pure compounds showed insecticidal activity against Stephanitis pyrioides and Ae. aegypti. High biting deterrent activity of geranic acid points to the need of further research.