Comparison effect of ethanolic seed extract of Melia Azedarach L. ‎‎(Meliaceae) against two Aphid species

Abstract

Background & Aim: Aphids are of serious pests and vectors of multitude of viral diseases of field crops, vegetables, ‎and greenhouse crops. They have displayed a remarkable ability to establish resistance to ‎almost every insecticide with which it has been treated. To reduce the damage of these pests ‎and dependence on the sometimes unwise use of synthetic pesticides in crop and vegetable ‎plantations, the toxicity of ethanolic seed extract of <em>Melia</em> <em>azedarach</em> L. (Meliaceae) was ‎assayed against 3-4 days-old individuals of <em>Aphis gossypii</em> Glover and <em>Myzus</em> <em>persicae</em> (Sulzer) ‎‎(Hemiptera: Aphididae).‎ Experimental: In this study, <em>M. azedarach</em> L. seeds were collected from Kerman, Iran. They were milled and ‎powdered and extracted with ethanol (95%) solvent. All experiments with different ‎concentrations were conducted by topical test bioassay in laboratory. The treated aphids were ‎reared at 25±1 °C temperature, relative humidity of 60±10 % and 16 hours of artificial light at ‎an intensity of about 4000 lux. Ethanol (95%) was used as control treatments. ‎ Results & Discussion: The results indicated that in the concentration 60 µl/ml, the mortality of <em>A. gossypii</em> treatment ‎after 24 h was 95% and it was significantly higher than <em>M. persicae</em> treatment (<em>p</em><0.005). ‎Also the LC₅₀ of ethanol seed extracts of <em>M. azedarach</em> for <em>A. gossypii</em> and <em>M. persicae</em> after ‎‎24 hr was 13.7 and 15.0 µl/ml, respectively.‏‎ It is concluded that the ethanolic seed extract ‎of <em>M. azedarach</em> may be applicable as a safe insecticide to aphid's control in IPM programs‏.‏

Industrial and Practical Recommendations: According to this research, ethanolic seed extract of <em>Melia azedarach</em> L has good pesticide effects and can be used as a low-risk pesticide for controlling aphids in IPM. Due to the less destructive effects of herbal pesticides on humans and environment than chemical ones, these compositions can be recommended as a low-risk pesticide or as a model for making new pesticides for eradicating the pests.