Date of Graduation

Fall 2009

Degree

Master of Science in Plant Science (Agriculture)

Department

College of Agriculture

Committee Chair

Maciej Pszczolkowski

Abstract

The codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is a major pest of apple, and if not controlled may eliminate up to 80% of the crop, which translates to $40 billion annually worldwide. This insect infests the apple as a neonate larva and the grower has limited control measures against it. Integrated Pest Management techniques available (including broadspectrum hard insecticides, less toxic narrow spectrum insecticides, microbial insecticides, attract and kill and mating disruption) are not sufficient. I explored the potential for a novel control strategy against this insect which would employ feeding deterrents to prevent fruit infestation. Specifically, I designed a bioassay that allows testing small volumes of deterrents independent of the season and explored the potential of Ginkgo biloba, and several members of the Artemisia genus for deterring codling moth neonates. I found that alcoholic extracts of Ginkgo, A. absinthium, A. arborescens x A. absinthium, A. ludoviciana "Vallerie Finns" and A. annua are deterrent to codling moth. Deterrent constituents of A. absinthium are likely non-polar and extractable with hexane, whereas those from A. annua are likely polar compounds. Using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography, I delineated retention factors of these substances for further analysis. Additionally, I found that a secondary metabolite of A. annua, artemisinin, is mildly deterrent to codling moth neonates and prevents fruit infestation.

Keywords

codling moth, insect feeding deterrents, plant secondary metabolites, Artemisia, Ginkgo biloba

Subject Categories

Plant Sciences

Copyright

© Kevin P. Durden

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