ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Senecio rudbeckiafolious IN PEST CONTROL OF Diatraea saccharalis

TERÁN, PAULA MARÍA; VARGAS, JOAQUÍN; MEREP, ANA PAOLA; GARCÍA-DEGANO, FLORENCIA; GASTAMINZA, GERARDO; AJMAT, MARÍA TERESA

Tucumán

Jornada; XXXVIII Jornadas Científicas de la Asociación de Biología de Tucumán; 2021

Asociación de Biología de Tucumán

Species of the genus Senecio contain a wide variety of secondary metabolites. The toxicity demonstrated against insects and vertebrates by many of them is attributed to the production of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Previous studies have shown toxic effects of the alkaloidal fractionof a methanolic extract of Senecio rudbeckiaefolious on larvae of Diatraea saccharalis, the main pest affecting sugarcane in Tucumán. Sustainable agricultural practices demand more research on easily prepared pest control bioproducts with the lowest possible environmental impact. This work aimed to study the lethal and sublethal effects of an ethanolic extract (EE) obtained from S. rudbeckiaefolious on D. saccharalis larvae. Toxicity assays by forced intake were made with batches of 32 neonate larvae fed on an EE-impregnated diet (500– 4000 mg/L) and an unimpregnated diet for control. Three repetitions were performed. At 14 days, the number of live larvae, dead larvae, larval stage, and sublethal effects were recorded throughout the cycle. Toxic concentration-dependent effects were observed with a high percentage of mortality (70–80%) and growth inhibition. Only 3.45% of the 500 mg/L treatment larvae reached the adult stage; theremaining treated specimens did not exceed the larval stage. These data are promising for the formulation of an accessible, inexpensive, and low toxicity natural product for D. saccharalis control.