Potential phytoinsecticide of Annona mucosa (Jacq) (Annonaceae) in the control of brown stink bug

Abstract

Plant extract have been recognized as important natural source of insecticide. Herein, we assessed the toxicity of leaves-extract and seeds-extract of Annona mucosa (Annonaceae) against brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), a soybean pest in Neotropical America. For this, bioassays with nymphs and adults were conducted using the concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg.mL^-1 of leaves and seeds extract of A. mucosa and DMSO (10%), as control. Ten replicates were conducted by treatment, with five nymphs (3^rd instar) by replicate (bioassay with nymphs) and one couple of adults (< 24h of old) by replicate (bioassay with adults). The number of nymphs death (mortality) and survival of adults were assessed. For adults the fecundity (number of eggs) and fertility (number of nymphs hatched) of females also were assessed. The nymphs bioassay has promising results in seeds extract, when compared to leaves extract. The mortality of nymphs treated with seeds extract was dependent-concentration, with increased in mortality in concentrations > 5.0mg.mL^-1, while nymphs treated with leaves extract do not exhibit difference between treatments. In adults the survival was reduced, when were treated with seed extract of A. mucosa at concentrations higher than 20mg.mL^-1, with reduction up to 92 days in contrast to control. A drastic reduction in the fecundity and fertility was observed, which highlight deleterious action of seed extract against reproductive potential of E. heros. This is the first report about toxicity A. mucosa (leaves and seed) on E. heros, and our results suggest that seeds extract of A. mucosa is promising for control of nymphs and adults of brown stink bug.