Characterization of Nanospheres Containing Zanthoxylum riedelianum Fruit Essential Oil and Their Insecticidal and Deterrent Activities against Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
Karla de Castro Pereira,
Eliane Dias Quintela,
Daniel José da Silva,
Vinicius Alves do Nascimento,
Dannilo V. M. da Rocha,
José Francisco Arruda e Silva,
Moacir Rossi Forim,
Fabiano Guimarães Silva,
Cristiane de Melo Cazal
Affiliations
Karla de Castro Pereira
Goiano Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology-Campus Rio Verde, Rod. Sul Goiana, Km 01, 75901-970 Rio Verde, Brazil
Eliane Dias Quintela
Brazilian Corporation of Agricultural Research-Embrapa Rice and Bean, Rodovia GO-462, Km 12, Fazenda Capivara, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 179, 75375-000 Santo Antônio de Goiás, Brazil
Daniel José da Silva
Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southeastern Minas Gerais-Campus Barbacena, Rua Monsenhor José Augusto, n 204, Bairro São José, 36205-018 Barbacena, Brazil
Vinicius Alves do Nascimento
Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southeastern Minas Gerais-Campus Barbacena, Rua Monsenhor José Augusto, n 204, Bairro São José, 36205-018 Barbacena, Brazil
Dannilo V. M. da Rocha
Brazilian Corporation of Agricultural Research-Embrapa Rice and Bean, Rodovia GO-462, Km 12, Fazenda Capivara, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 179, 75375-000 Santo Antônio de Goiás, Brazil
José Francisco Arruda e Silva
Brazilian Corporation of Agricultural Research-Embrapa Rice and Bean, Rodovia GO-462, Km 12, Fazenda Capivara, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 179, 75375-000 Santo Antônio de Goiás, Brazil
Moacir Rossi Forim
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz, km 235, CP 676, 13565-905 São Carlos, Brazil
Fabiano Guimarães Silva
Goiano Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology-Campus Rio Verde, Rod. Sul Goiana, Km 01, 75901-970 Rio Verde, Brazil
Cristiane de Melo Cazal
Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southeastern Minas Gerais-Campus Barbacena, Rua Monsenhor José Augusto, n 204, Bairro São José, 36205-018 Barbacena, Brazil
The aim of our study was to produce and characterize poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanospheres containing essential oils from Zanthoxylum riedelianum fruit and to evaluate their stability gains as well as their insecticidal and deterrent activities against whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). The PCL nanospheres exhibited a homogeneous spherical morphology, with particle diameters between 106.7 nm and 129.2 nm, pH of approximately 6, zeta potential (ZP) lower than −19.0 mV and encapsulation efficiency higher than 98%. Only 43% of the nanoencapsulated essential oil (NSEO) was degraded in response to ultraviolet light, whereas the essential oil (EO) degraded by 76% over the same period. In a free-choice test, the NSEO and EO reduced the number of whitefly eggs by approximately 70%. NSEO and EO at 1.5% killed 82.87% and 91.23% of 2nd-instar nymphs of whitefly, respectively. Although NSEO displayed lower insecticidal activity, it offers a greater advantage over the free EO, due to protection conferred by polymer against photodegradation. Therefore, its usage may optimize the maintenance of essential oils in the field through photoprotection and controlled release. Our results suggest that the EO of Z. riedelianum fruit can be used for B. tabaci management strategy; nevertheless, the benefits of NSEO require further evaluation at the field level.
