Toxic effect of citrus peel constituents on Anastrepha fraterculus Wiedemann and Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann immature stages

M. JOSEFINA RUIZ; LAURA JUÁREZ; RAÚL A. ALZOGARAY; FEDERICO ARRIGHI; LORENA ARROYO; GERARDO GASTAMINZA; EDUARDO WILLINK; ALICIA BARDÓN; TERESA VERA

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Lugar: Washington; Año: 2014

0021-8561

Toxicity of essential oils from the citrus peel has been proposed as the major resistance mechanism offered by citrus to fruit fly infestation. We evaluated through bioassay the insecticidal activity of the ether extracts from the peel of lemon and grapefruit, and the toxicity of limonene and citral, against the South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) immaturity stages. We also evaluated the toxicity of the extracts at two  ripening stages. Extracts from the peels of lemon and grapefruit proved toxic to A.  fraterculus egg and larvae. Lemon and grapefruit extracts showed the same levels of  toxicity within and between fruit fly species. For eggs, citral was four times more toxic  than limonene and for larvae they showed equal toxicity. Anastrepha fraterculus eggs  were more sensitive than C. capitata eggs. Conclusively, we showed that extracts from  the citrus peel are toxic to A. fraterculus and C. capitata immature stages, and this  contributes to the non host condition of lemon for A. fraterculus.