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Feeding deterrent effect of carvone, a compound from caraway seeds, on the slug Arion lusitanicus
Author(s) -
FRANK T,
BIERT K,
SPEISER B
Publication year - 2002
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/j.1744-7348.2002.tb00200.x
Subject(s) - carvone , biology , mulch , slug , botany , horticulture , zoology , toxicology , essential oil , ecology , limonene
Summary The feeding deterrent effect of carvone on the slug Arion lusitanicus was investigated. Carvone, a natural compound from caraway seeds, was incorporated into mulch to reduce its inherent volatility. In a laboratory choice experiment, boxes were filled on one side with carvone‐treated mulch and on the other side with untreated mulch. At carvone concentrations ranging from 0.03–0.75 ml litre −1 mulch, slugs ate significantly more lettuce on the untreated side. In a laboratory based no‐choice experiment, carvone concentrations of 0.25 and 0.75 ml litre −1 mulch significantly reduced slug feeding in comparison with the untreated control. Moreover at the highest concentration of carvone (0.75 ml litre −1 mulch) 50% mortality was recorded over a period of 5 days, indicating a clear molluscicidal effect. Due to its volatility carvone did not decrease plant defoliation by A. lusitanicus when applied directly onto lettuce. Subsequent field evaluation showed 0.75 ml litre −1 mulch to partially reduce slug feeding damage. However, this effect was not sufficient to significantly increase lettuce yield. The incorporation of a higher carvone concentration into mulch is still to be tested to confirm whether carvone‐treated mulch can be recommended as an effective alternative approach to chemical slug control.