Utilization of non-host plants semiochemicals to mediate insect behavior offers a promising opportunity for novel management of insect pests in field crops and fruits. Therefore, there is still a substantial opportunity for the development of natural prophylactic as an eco-friendly approach in the novel pest management programs. Sophora alopecuroides extract has been used as a natural pesticide in the control of agricultural and household pests, but the low persistence effect and rapid biodegradability limit its use on a wider scale in pest management programs. In this study, an emulsifiable concentrate formulation containing S. alopecuroides extract (SAE-EC) was developed with a simple procedure and evaluated for its ovicidal, antifeedant, and repellent effects against Diaphorina citri under laboratory and semi-field conditions. Our results indicated that SAE-EC at 15, 30, and 50 mg/mL concentrations provide complete protection against psyllids for a period of 96 h after application both under laboratory and semi-field conditions, while the aqueous methanolic extract of S. alopecuroides loses its persistence 48 h after application. Furthermore, the emulsifiable concentrate at 20 and 30 mg/mL concentrations, only 15.97% and 31.97% of eggs were able to hatch, and at similar concentrations, 72.86% and 85.5% of honeydew secretion were reduced as compared to the control. SAE-EC at 30 mg/mL concentration has not shown any phytotoxic symptoms on Murraya paniculata seedlings. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study revealed the presence of alkaloids in emulsifiable concentrate after 3 months of its preparation placed under ambient temperature. Furthermore, the particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) of the emulsifiable concentrate were also confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Our finding indicated that emulsifiable concentrate formulation prolongs the persistence of S. alopecuroides extract and enhances its efficacy both under laboratory and semi-field conditions. It has been concluded that the emulsifiable concentrate formulation containing S. alopecuroides extract might be developed as an eco-friendly novel prophylactic against citrus psyllid.
Keywords: Asian citrus psyllid; Botanical pesticides; Emulsifiable concentrate; Novel prophylactic; Sophora alopecuroides.