ESSENTIAL OILS AS A REPELLENT AND ANTIFEEDANT FOR SLUGS UNDER LABORATORY CONDITION

Abstract

Plant-based biopesticides as repellents and antifeedants of animal’s pest, have been used for several years in traditional method as a useful the human, in their animals and crops protection measure against pests. Development of novel biopesticides based on plant secondary metabolic substances, are wide range of ideal properties, such as low mammalian toxicity, high target toxicity, low cost and eco-friendly. Material and methods: The current study evaluated the potency of five essential oils, Ocimum basilicum L., Curcuma longa L., Allium sativum L., Eucalyptus globulus Labill and Lavandula angustifolia Mill, for their repellency and antifeedants activities against the slugs. A 0.2%, 0.5% and 1% exposed concentrations, was prepared 10ml of each solution was dosed on a piece of fresh lettuce leaves was offered to the slugs in plastic boxes (59.2cm*39.7cm*57.7cm). The lettuce leaves were treated with 1ml of tested EOs was placed in the treated side. A further of untreated was included in control side. Each were replicated three times. Results: The choice bioassay of five EOs against the slugs revealed the high repellency A. sativum, E. globulus, L. officinalis C. longa and O. basilicum compared their untreated control. An additional antecedent analysis pointed out that, among the most feeding deterrence EOs, E. globulus, A. sativum, L. officinalis, O. basilicum and C. longa. Conclusion: It is concluded that, this study strongly suggests the use of five EOs O. basilicum, C. longa, A. sativum, E. globulus and L. officinalis as a biopesticides to control slugs under laboratory condition and environmentally safe. The development of biological molluscicides may help decrease dependence on synthetic chemicals. In this respect, eco-friendly (EO) molluscicides may also be effective, selective, easily biodegradable, and relatively pollutant-free for the environment. Finally, despite the repellency and antifeedants of EOs, there is still an urgent need to study the effectiveness of oils in open field conditions.