Ação repelente, inseticida e fagoinibidora de extratos e frações de Petiveria alliacea sobre Sitophilus zeamais

Abstract

Botanical insecticides base their action on active principles present in plants, known as secondary metabolites, which seek to fulfill the same function as synthetic insecticides. Within this context, extracts of plant origin have been highlighted as an alternative for pest control, presenting several advantages in relation to current control methods. Among these pests, Sithophilus zeamais stands out, which attack stored corn grains, causing quantitative and qualitative losses, such as decreases in mass and volume, as well as nutritional value and physiological quality of the seeds, affecting the implantation of the crop, reducing its economic value. The control of this insect is done by synthetic agrochemicals that, over time, can develop resistance to these products, in addition to causing damage to the environment. On the other hand, there is the Petiveria alliacea plant that is used in traditional medicine and scientific studies demonstrate its pharmacological, insecticidal and nematicidal effects. Thus, the study of the repellent, insecticide and phage-inhibiting action of P. alliacea using extracts and fractions obtained from leaves, stems and roots on S. zeamais, is relevant for traditional and scientific communities, regarding the development of agricultural biotechnologies