Planta Med 2011; 77 - PM91
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282849

Effect of methanolic extract of Harmal (Peganum harmala L.) on greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

M Dehghani 1, K Ahmadi 2, H Zohdi 3, M Ashrafju 1
  • 1Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.-Member of Young Researchers Society, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
  • 2Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
  • 3Department of plant protection, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum is one of most serious pests of vegetables in the world [1]. The current insecticides mainly were caused resistance to insects and outbreaks of whiteflies [2]. The plant kingdom is by far the most efficient producer of chemical compounds, synthesizing many products that are used in defense against herbivores. Plants provide for pest control alternative to pesticides as a rich source of bioactive chemicals [3].

This experiment was studied to determine the effect of methanolic extract of harmal (Peganum harmala L.) on hatching rate and hatching time of the whitefly. The leaves of bean plants with eggs of the whitefly were placed in the round plastic Petri dishes (5cm diameter) that filled with agar gel. The number of eggs on the leaf discs was counted and the eggs were treated with two concentrations of the harmal extract (40 & 80mg/ml). In the concentration of 80mg/ml, eggs were treated immediately after laying, while in 40mg/ml, they were treated seven days after the expired incubation period. In control treatments distilled water were applied. In concentration of 40mg/ml, hatching rate and hatching time were 82.4% and 9.3 days, respectively. While the results of hatching rate and hatching time in the other concentration (80mg/ml) were 72.3% and 10.1 days, respectively. Hatching rate and hatching time in the both of concentrations were significantly different than control treatment. So, this extract could be affected on hatching rate and hatching time of this insect.

Keywords: Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Peganum harmala, Hatching rate, hatching time

References: 1. Lindquist R K (1972)J Econ Entomol 65: 1406–1408.

2. Andover D G (1990) Whiteflies; their bionomics, pest status and management. Intercept Ltd. UK.

3. Kim HG et al. (2005) Food Sci Biotechnol 14 (5): 685–688.