Development of Clitoria ternatea as a biopesticide for cotton pest management: assessment of product effect on Helicoverpa spp. and their natural enemies. Issue 2 (10th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mensah, Robert; Leach, David; Young, Alison; Watts, Nick; Glennie, Peter
• Is Part Of: Entomologia experimentalis et applicata. Volume 154:Issue 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 131
• Page End: 145
• Publication Date: 2015-01-10
• Subjects: Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.7
• DOI: 10.1111/eea.12263
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-8703

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="eea12263-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The Australian cotton industry is now dominated by transgenic (Bt) varieties, which provide a strong platform for integrated pest management (IPM) of <italic>Helicoverpa</italic> spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). New IPM‐compatible tools are required to manage the development of resistance in <italic>Helicoverpa</italic> spp. and the control of other sucking pests. A 10‐year study commenced in 2001 to identify short‐range, non‐volatile compounds on organ surfaces of plants that deter feeding or oviposition, or are toxic and do not support development of <italic>Helicoverpa</italic> spp. on cotton plants. The results of the initial study identified <italic>Clitoria ternatea</italic>L. (Fabaceae) as non‐preferred for <italic>Helicoverpa</italic> spp. oviposition and larval feeding. The study found that <italic>C. ternatea</italic> fractionalized extract mixture (fractions 2, 3, 4, and 6) caused oviposition and feeding deterrence as well as direct toxicity to <italic>Helicoverpa</italic> spp. This study has developed an oil‐based semiochemical product from <italic>C. ternatea</italic> identified in the initial study into a potential commercial product. The application of 1–2% (vol/vol) of the oil‐based formulation of the <italic>C. ternatea</italic> mixture against <italic>Helicoverpa</italic> spp. on commercial transgenic and conventional cotton crops resulted in <italic>Helicoverpa</italic> spp. oviposition and larval feeding deterrence, as well as caused direct mortality to larvae. No negative effect on beneficial insects was observed. In conclusion, the ability of the oil‐based <italic>C. ternatea</italic> mixture to control <italic>Helicoverpa</italic> spp. infestations, while conserving beneficial insect populations, suggests its potential for use in supplementing IPM programs to reduce the use of synthetic insecticides on transgenic and conventional cotton crops.</p> </abstract>