Evaluation of Selected Plant Essential Oils for Aphid Pest Control in Integrated Pest Management
Aphids are major agricultural pests, feeding on plant sap and transmitting viruses to economically important crops. The use of synthetic pesticides is increasingly restricted due to stricter regulations aimed at protecting both human and environmental health. To address this challenge, we investigat...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/353 |
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| author | José Luis Casas María López Santos-Olmo Aitor Sagarduy-Cabrera Mᵃ Ángeles Marcos-García |
| author_facet | José Luis Casas María López Santos-Olmo Aitor Sagarduy-Cabrera Mᵃ Ángeles Marcos-García |
| author_sort | José Luis Casas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aphids are major agricultural pests, feeding on plant sap and transmitting viruses to economically important crops. The use of synthetic pesticides is increasingly restricted due to stricter regulations aimed at protecting both human and environmental health. To address this challenge, we investigated the potential of essential oils (EOs) extracted from rosemary (<i>Salvia rosmarinus</i> Spenn.), laurel (<i>Laurus nobilis</i> L.), and cypress (<i>Cupressus sempervirens</i> L.) as alternatives to synthetic insecticides, while ensuring compatibility with biological control strategies. The EOs were extracted via hydrodistillation, diluted in acetone, and tested against the aphid <i>Myzus persicae</i> and its natural predator, the hoverfly (<i>Sphaerophoria rueppellii</i>). Aphid mortality was dose-dependent, reaching 85% with rosemary EO, 83% with laurel, and 81% with cypress. In contrast, hoverfly larvae mortality remained low, with a maximum of 20%, which could largely be attributed to the solvent used in the assays. These promising results support further research to develop effective EO-based tools for integrated pest management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e88c0f5c8ab43eb82f866c49132d06c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e88c0f5c8ab43eb82f866c49132d06c2025-08-20T02:28:36ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-03-0116435310.3390/insects16040353Evaluation of Selected Plant Essential Oils for Aphid Pest Control in Integrated Pest ManagementJosé Luis Casas0María López Santos-Olmo1Aitor Sagarduy-Cabrera2Mᵃ Ángeles Marcos-García3Unidad Asociada de I+D+i al CSIC “Interrelaciones Insecto-Patógeno-Planta y sus Agentes de Biocontrol” (IPAB), Research Institute CIBIO (Centro Iberoamericano de la Biodiversidad), Scientific Park, University of Alicante, Ctra. San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, SpainResearch Institute CIBIO (Centro Iberoamericano de la Biodiversidad), Scientific Park, University of Alicante, Ctra. San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, SpainResearch Institute CIBIO (Centro Iberoamericano de la Biodiversidad), Scientific Park, University of Alicante, Ctra. San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, SpainUnidad Asociada de I+D+i al CSIC “Interrelaciones Insecto-Patógeno-Planta y sus Agentes de Biocontrol” (IPAB), Research Institute CIBIO (Centro Iberoamericano de la Biodiversidad), Scientific Park, University of Alicante, Ctra. San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, SpainAphids are major agricultural pests, feeding on plant sap and transmitting viruses to economically important crops. The use of synthetic pesticides is increasingly restricted due to stricter regulations aimed at protecting both human and environmental health. To address this challenge, we investigated the potential of essential oils (EOs) extracted from rosemary (<i>Salvia rosmarinus</i> Spenn.), laurel (<i>Laurus nobilis</i> L.), and cypress (<i>Cupressus sempervirens</i> L.) as alternatives to synthetic insecticides, while ensuring compatibility with biological control strategies. The EOs were extracted via hydrodistillation, diluted in acetone, and tested against the aphid <i>Myzus persicae</i> and its natural predator, the hoverfly (<i>Sphaerophoria rueppellii</i>). Aphid mortality was dose-dependent, reaching 85% with rosemary EO, 83% with laurel, and 81% with cypress. In contrast, hoverfly larvae mortality remained low, with a maximum of 20%, which could largely be attributed to the solvent used in the assays. These promising results support further research to develop effective EO-based tools for integrated pest management.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/353<i>Myzus persicae</i>biological control<i>Sphaerophoria rueppellii</i>cypresslaurelrosemary |
| spellingShingle | José Luis Casas María López Santos-Olmo Aitor Sagarduy-Cabrera Mᵃ Ángeles Marcos-García Evaluation of Selected Plant Essential Oils for Aphid Pest Control in Integrated Pest Management Insects <i>Myzus persicae</i> biological control <i>Sphaerophoria rueppellii</i> cypress laurel rosemary |
| title | Evaluation of Selected Plant Essential Oils for Aphid Pest Control in Integrated Pest Management |
| title_full | Evaluation of Selected Plant Essential Oils for Aphid Pest Control in Integrated Pest Management |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Selected Plant Essential Oils for Aphid Pest Control in Integrated Pest Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Selected Plant Essential Oils for Aphid Pest Control in Integrated Pest Management |
| title_short | Evaluation of Selected Plant Essential Oils for Aphid Pest Control in Integrated Pest Management |
| title_sort | evaluation of selected plant essential oils for aphid pest control in integrated pest management |
| topic | <i>Myzus persicae</i> biological control <i>Sphaerophoria rueppellii</i> cypress laurel rosemary |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/353 |
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