Skip to main content
Log in

Constituents of Commiphora Rostrata and Some of Their Analogues as Maize Weevil, Sitophilus Zeamais Repellents

  • Research Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The major alkanone constituents of the resin of Commiphora rostrata, 2-decanone and 2-undecanone, and a series of structural analogues were bioassayed for their repellency against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais in olfactometric assays. All the aliphatic ketones and aldehydes showed comparable or greater activity than the synthetic commercial insect repellent N, N-diethyl toluamide (DEET). In the 2-alkanone series the C-8 and C-9 compounds demonstrated significantly higher activity than their shorter- and longer-chained congeners. Analogues differing in the relative positions of the carbonyl group, including aldehydes, showed a variable pattern of repellency. Alkanols appeared to be mildly attractive to the weevil. The results support our previous suggestion that the resin constituents may play an allomonal role in the ecosystem where the plant thrives.

Résumé

Les principaux constituents de la resin de Commiphora rostrata, 2-decanone et 2-undecanone, et une toute une serie des structures analogues furent essayé pour leur effet repellant contre Sitophilus zeamais. Tous les cetones aliphatiques et les aldehydes ont montré une activité plus importante que le repellant commercial N, N-diethyl toluamide (DEET). Dans les series du 2-alcanone, les substances C-8 et C-9 ont montré une activité significative par rapport aux chaînes congenères courtes et longues. Les analogues qui différent par la position relative de leur groupe carboxyl, y compris les aldehydes ont montré une image variable de repellance. Les alcohols apparaisent être attractive pour Sitophilus zeamais. Ces resultats supportent notre suggestion concernant les constituents de la resin qui peuvent jouer un rôle allomale sur l’ecosystèmes des plantes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bell E. A. (1986) Plants as sources of novel pest and disease control agents. In British Crop Protection Conference — Pests and Disease. BCPC Publications, Brighton, England. pp. 661–667.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cammaerls M. C., Inwood M. R., Morgan E. D., Parry K. and Tyler P. C. (1978) Comparative study of the pheromones emitted by workers of the ants Myrmica rubra and Myrmica seabrinodis. J. Insect Physiol. 24, 207–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dimock M. B. and Kennedy G. G. (1983) The role of glandular trichomes in the resistance of Lycopersicon hirsutum J. glabratum. Entomol. exp. appl. 33, 263–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dimock M. B., Kennedy G. G. and Williams W. G. (1982) Toxicity studies of analogs of 2-tridecanone, a naturally occurring toxicant from a wild tomato. J. Chem. Ecol. 8, 837–842.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farrar R. R. and Kennedy G. G. (1987) 2-Undecanone, a constituent of the glandular trichomes of Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum: Effects on Heliothis zea and Manduca sexta growth and survival. Entomol. exp. appl. 43, 17–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferry R. L., Kennedy G. G. and Sorenson C. E. (1984) Genetic analysis of 2-tridecanone concentration and resistance to the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) and the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) in Lycopersicon species. Hon. Sci. 19, 562.

  • Hassanali A., Lwande W., Ole Sitayo N., Moreka L., Chapya A. and Nokoe S. K. (1990) Leaves of Ocimum suave and flower buds of Eugenia aromatica as maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Molschulsky) repellents. Discovery & Innovation 2, 91–95.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson M. and Crosby D. G. (1971) Naturally Occurring Insecticides, pp. 227. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy G. G. and Dimock M. B. (1983) 2-Tridecanone: A natural toxicant in a wild tomato responsible for insect resistance. In IUPAC Pesticide Chemistry, Human Welfare and Environment (Edited by Miyamoto J.), pp. 123–128. Pergamon Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDowell P. G., Lwande W., Deans S. G. and Waterman P. G. (1988) Volatile resin exudate from stem bark of Commiphorarostrata: Potential role in plant defence. Phytochemistry 27, 2519–2521.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meinwald J., Prestwich G. D., Nakanishi K. and Kubo I. (1978) Chemical ecology: Studies from East Africa. Science 199, 1167–1513.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips J. K., Walgenbach C. A., Klein J. A., Burkholder W.E., Schmuff N. R. and Fales H. M. (1985) (R* S*)-5-Hydroxy-4-methyl-3-heptanone: Male produced aggregation pheromone of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and S. zeamais Motsch. J. Chem. Ecol. 11, 1263–1274.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Regnier F. E. (1968) The alarm-defence system of the ant Acanthomyops claviger. J. Insect Physiol. 14, 955–970.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walgenbach C. A. and Burkholder W. E. (1986) Factors affecting the responseof the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), to its aggregation pheromone. Environ. Entomol. 15, 733–738.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams W. G., Kennedy G. G., Yamamoto R. T., Thacker J. D. and Border J. (1980) 2-Tridecanone: A naturally-occurring insecticide from the wild tomato Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum. Science 207, 888–889.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lwande, W., Hassanali, A., Mcdowell, P.G. et al. Constituents of Commiphora Rostrata and Some of Their Analogues as Maize Weevil, Sitophilus Zeamais Repellents. Int J Trop Insect Sci 13, 679–683 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1017/S174275840000789X

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S174275840000789X

Key Words

Mots Clés

Navigation