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Control of Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) with extracts of Agave americana var. Marginata Trel. in Brassica oleracea crops
Author(s) -
Pereira Adalgisa J.,
Cardoso Irene M.,
Araújo Hernane D.,
Santana Felipe C.,
Carneiro Antonio P. S.,
Coelho Steliane P.,
Pereira Franklin J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/aab.12471
Subject(s) - agave , brevicoryne brassicae , biology , aphid , brassica oleracea , brassica , coriandrum , aphididae , horticulture , pest analysis , agronomy , botany , toxicology , sativum , homoptera
Alternative methods of pest control can and should be encouraged, especially those that consider the reality of smallholder family farmers. Here, we evaluated the potential of Agave americana (agave) extracts for the control of the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae in cabbage ( Brassica oleracea L. var acephala) in the field and laboratory. The field experiments consisted of the evaluation of the proportion of dead aphids on cabbage plants after application of agave extracts. In the field, agave mixed with cow milk caused mortality above 80% and was the most effective extract. Agave mixed with water and agave mixed with ethanol elicited mortality above 60%. In the laboratory, we evaluated the mortality of aphids after the application of different concentrations of aqueous agave extracts; the commercial insecticide deltamethrin was included as positive control. Evaluation took place at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hr after applying the treatment. As expected, deltamethrin was the most effective treatment. However, agave extract at concentrations of 0.750 and 0.500 g/mL caused >70% mortality 3 hr after application. We conclude that A. americana extracts decreased aphid populations and is a promising alternative to the commercial insecticide against aphids in cabbage.