Biological activity of three alkyl cinnamates on young larvae of Tuta absoluta

PÉREZ, MARÍA EMILIA; HARAMBOURE, MARINA; MIRANDE, LUCIANA; ROMANELLI, G.P.; SCHNEIDER, MARCELA INÉS; AUTINO, J.C.

Ghent

Simposio; 65th International Symposium on Crop Protection; 2013

The "tomato moth," Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a neotropical oligophagous insect considered a key pest of tomato crops. It was detected in Europe seven years ago and quickly spread to several regions of Asia and North Africa. In Argentina, its control is by chemical pesticides mainly. The indiscriminate use of chemical broad spectrum pesticides have caused several problems in the control of this pest due to resistance mechanism involved to several insecticides including pyrethroids, organophosphates and abamectin. In this context, the search and evaluation of new compounds, compatible with integrated pest management programs, becomes relevant. Within the phenylpropanoids, alkyl cinnamates, whether natural or synthetic, have been reported with biological activity: repellence, antifeedant and insecticide. Therefore, the cinnamates could be an alternative to replace the conventional insecticides. The aim of this work was to study the antifeedant effect of three alkyl cinnamates (methyl, ethyl and propyl cinnamate) on the herbivory behavior by second instar larvae of T. absoluta. A series of concentrations of each compound (100, 250 and 500 micrograms/milliliter) were prepared by dissolving in acetone-distilled water and a surfactant (Tween 80) was added to each solution. Tomato leaf disks of 2 cm diameter were treated by immersion in each solution during 15 seconds. Afterward, the treated disc were dried under fume hood and each disk was placed in a plastic capsule. A larva with a 6-8 hours of starvation was added to each experimental unit. Each treatment was replicated thirty times. The area consumed by each larva was measured after 24, 48 and 72 hours post-treatment. We also evaluated development time, weight of the pupa, adult emergence, fecundity and fertility as sublethal effects. The results were analyzed using ANOVA test. None of the compounds tested at the aforementioned concentrations exhibited insecticidal effect. However, ethyl cinnamate showed a strong antifeedant effect. The results observed on the herbivory and other sublethal effects assessed will be discussed. According to these preliminary results, further studies are needed to complete its toxicological profile by other exposure methods and besides, its environmental dynamics and side effects on natural enemies.