Insecticidal and antifungal effects of Lemon, Orange, and Grapefruit peel essential oils from Argentina

ACHIMÓN F.; LEAL L.E.; PIZZOLITTO R.; BRITO V.; ALARCÓN R. ; OMARINI A.B.; ZYGADLO J.A.

Agriscientia

Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Lugar: Córdoba; Año: 2022

1668-298X

The aim of the present work was to study the bioactivity of lemon, orange, andgrapefruit peel essential oils (EOs) obtained from Argentinian plantations ondifferent agronomically important insect and fungal species. The chemicalprofile of EOs was determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry(GC/MS); the insecticidal activity was studied through contact and fumigantassays; the antifungal activity was evaluated with fumigant tests. Orange EOwas the most effective against Rhyzopertha dominica, Oryzaephilus sp. andSitophilus granarius in fumigation tests (LC50= 89.39, 94.50, and 163.64 µL/Lair, respectively); while the insecticidal effect of EOs was species-dependentin contact toxicity assays. Regarding antifungal activity, Rhizoctonia solaniiwas more susceptible than Sclerotium rolfsii to the tested EOs, with lemon fromIndustry 1 and orange being the most toxic EOs (MIC=10.77 µL/plate and 11.02µL/plate, respectively). Conversely, S. rolfsii was strongly inhibited by lemon EOfrom Industry 2 (MIC= 52.40 µL/plate). Besides limonene, other compoundsthat could be responsible for these bioactivities were: linalool, carvone,α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, α-terpineol, terpinen-4-ol, limonene oxide,β-phellandrene, γ-terpinene, sabinene, neral, neryl acetate, β-caryophylleneand p-cymene. Citrus peel EOs could be used against different pests,contributing to the valorization of citrus residues