Plants (Feb 2023)

The Type of Grain Counts: Effectiveness of Three Essential Oil-Based Nanoemulsions against <i>Sitophilus oryzae</i>

  • Nickolas G. Kavallieratos,
  • Giulia Bonacucina,
  • Erifili P. Nika,
  • Anna Skourti,
  • Stavroula Kyriaki C. Georgakopoulou,
  • Constantin S. Filintas,
  • Anna Maria E. Panariti,
  • Filippo Maggi,
  • Riccardo Petrelli,
  • Marta Ferrati,
  • Eleonora Spinozzi,
  • Diego Romano Perinelli,
  • Angelo Canale,
  • Giovanni Benelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040813
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 4
p. 813

Abstract

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Essential oil (EO)-based nanoemulsions (NEs) are promising grain protectants in the management of stored-product pests. However, the potential impact of the stored-grain species on the green insecticide effectiveness has been poorly studied. In this study, two concentrations of EO-based NEs from Carlina acaulis L., Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., and Hazomalania voyronii (Jum.) Capuron were evaluated as insecticides against the major stored-product pest Sitophilus oryzae (L.) on barley, oats, and maize kernels. The C. acaulis EO-based NE applied at 1000 ppm on barley achieved the highest mortality, killing 94.4% of S. oryzae adults after a 7-day exposure, followed by 1000 ppm of H. voyronii EO-based NE (83.3%). The lowest mortality (1.1%) was recorded with 500 ppm of M. longifolia EO-based NE on maize after the same interval. All tested NEs exhibited elevated efficacy when applied on barley, while mortalities were lower on oats and maize. Furthermore, C. acaulis EO-based NE was the most effective when applied on all commodities, followed by H. voyronii and M. longifolia EO-based NEs. Overall, our results highlighted the significant impact of the stored cereal on the insecticidal effectiveness of EO-based NE used for stored-product pest control. Sitophilus oryzae adults on barley can be adequately controlled through the application of C. acaulis and H. voyronii EO-based NEs.

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