Insecticidal properties of the physic nut tree Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) and potential use in pest management

by Farouk Bourogâa
Doctoral thesis
Date of Examination:2018-02-12
Date of issue:2019-01-18
Advisor:Prof. Dr. Stefan Vidal
Referee:Prof. Dr. Klaus Becker
Referee:Dr. Bernd Ulber
Persistent Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.53846/goediss-7216

 

 

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Abstract

English

The physic nut tree Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) is an oilseed plant widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. It is reported as a rich source of phytochemicals and known for its multipurpose use such as a botanical pesticide. The toxicity of J. curcas is attributed to a large spectrum of compounds, in particular various diterpenoid fractions produced at different sites in the plant. Many secondary metabolites extracted from this plant have been investigated for their toxicity on insects. In our study, we assessed the insecticidal properties of some extracts of J. curcas on three insects´ orders (Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera) including different insect species: the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the black bean aphid Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the Diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), the cabbage root fly Delia radicum (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) and the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). In this study, various bioassays were set up to investigate the contact and ingestion toxicity of some extracts, among them the Phorbol Ester Enriched Fraction (PEEF) and the purified seed oil of J. curcas. The repellent, deterrent and antifeedant effects were also assessed. The findings revealed that the insecticidal effects of the extracts of J. curcas varied widely among pests and depended clearly on the mode of feeding of the insect (sap-sucking, leaf-chewing and root-feeding). Aphids were the most susceptible to the toxicity of J. curcas compounds. The PEEF induced an antifeedant effect on P. xylostella and H. armigera when applied on host plants. Jatropha-oil and PEEF exhibited ovicidal and larvicidal effects on D. radicum. These insecticidal properties induced by the tested extracts were summarized and the potential of J. curcas in terms of use in pest control management was discussed.
Keywords: Jatropha curcas; insecticidal effect; Hemiptera; Lepidoptera; Diptera
 
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