In vitro efficacy of edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus kumm extracts for Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky control

Abstract

The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, is one of the most important pests of stored cereals worldwide. Currently, it is mainly controlled with the use of synthetic insecticides, with poor variation of action mechanisms. Natural compounds, particularly plant extracts, are an alternative to control this pest. The objective of this study was to evaluate, under laboratory conditions, the insecticidal/insectistatic effect of extracts with different polarity solvents of Pleurotus ostreatus Kumm against S. zeamais adult. The variables evaluated were contact and fumigant toxicity, repellency and antixenosis. A completely randomized experimental design was used. The highest toxicity was obtained by fumigation with ethyl acetate extract with a mortality of 100% at a concentration of 30 μL 0.15 L-1 air, and a CL50 of 18, 3 μL at 0, 15 L-1 air. Extracts in ethyl acetate and distilled water showed repellent activity, while all extracts exhibited antixenosis effects. It can be concluded that P. ostreatus extract in ethyl acetate has fumigant, repellent and antixenotic activity against S. zeamais adult.