Toxic and repellent effects of Baccharis salicifolia essential oil on Tribolium castaneum

• Published in: Pest management science Vol. 61; no. 6; pp. 612 - 618
• Main Authors: Garcia, Matias, Donadel, Osvald J, Ardanaz, Carlos E, Tonn, Carlos E, Sosa, Marta E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2005
• Subjects: Baccharis salicifolia; Tribolium castaneum
• ISSN: 1526-498X
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.1058

Allelochemical effects were observed when Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) adults were treated with Baccharis salicifolia (Ruiz & Pavon) Pers essential oil. The main biological activities were toxicity and repellence. Terpenes present in the essential oil were identified by GC-MS, and some authentic samples were tested to assess their activity individually. The most acutely toxic compounds after 3 days were -pinene and pulegone. Most of the monoterpenes elicited symptoms indicative of neurotoxicity. The most repellent compound was -terpineol. Toxic and repellent effects of chemical derivatives of the major sesquiterpene present in B salicifolia essential oil, as well as a series of monoterpenes, were evaluated in order to investigate structure-activity relationships. The reduced derivatives of the monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were more repellent that their carbonyl analogues. In addition, unsaturation in the germacrane skeleton enhanced repellent activity.