Kentucky State University
Potential of Ripe Pawpaw Fruit Extract as a Feeding Deterrent for Striped Cucumber Beetle on Squash
Institution
Kentucky State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
John Sedlacek; Karen Friley; Jeremiah Lowe; Kirk Pomper
Abstract
Laboratory experiments were performed to study the effects of pawpaw (Asimina triloba) fruit extract on mortality and feeding deterrence of striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum). Acetogenins were extracted from ripe pawpaw fruit pulp using a simple ethyl alcohol extraction procedure. Concentrations of 0, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 and 50,000 ppm were used. Buttercup squash leaf disks 3.5 cm in diameter were treated individually with each concentration and placed on water moistened filter paper in 9 cm plastic Petri dishes. Five striped cucumber beetles were placed on each treated or control leaf disk. All Petri dishes were then placed in an environmental growth chamber set at 27 ºC and a 16:8 hr light: dark photo period. Feeding activity was recorded in each Petri dish 1 and 4 h after beetle introduction. After 24 hr the cucumber beetles were removed. Amount of leaf tissue eaten was determined by tracing damaged leaves onto graph paper using a light table. Beetles did not feed on treated squash leaves at either 1 or 4 hours of exposure. However, significant feeding occurred between 4 and 24 hr after beetle introduction. Striped cucumber beetle feeding was lowest and feeding damage least on 50,000 ppm pawpaw treated leaf disks. Additional experiments need to be performed to determine the LD50 of ripe pawpaw fruit extracts for striped cucumber beetle. The duration of treatment effectiveness and susceptibility of other pest and beneficial insect pest species to the extracts also need to be determined.
Potential of Ripe Pawpaw Fruit Extract as a Feeding Deterrent for Striped Cucumber Beetle on Squash
Laboratory experiments were performed to study the effects of pawpaw (Asimina triloba) fruit extract on mortality and feeding deterrence of striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum). Acetogenins were extracted from ripe pawpaw fruit pulp using a simple ethyl alcohol extraction procedure. Concentrations of 0, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 and 50,000 ppm were used. Buttercup squash leaf disks 3.5 cm in diameter were treated individually with each concentration and placed on water moistened filter paper in 9 cm plastic Petri dishes. Five striped cucumber beetles were placed on each treated or control leaf disk. All Petri dishes were then placed in an environmental growth chamber set at 27 ºC and a 16:8 hr light: dark photo period. Feeding activity was recorded in each Petri dish 1 and 4 h after beetle introduction. After 24 hr the cucumber beetles were removed. Amount of leaf tissue eaten was determined by tracing damaged leaves onto graph paper using a light table. Beetles did not feed on treated squash leaves at either 1 or 4 hours of exposure. However, significant feeding occurred between 4 and 24 hr after beetle introduction. Striped cucumber beetle feeding was lowest and feeding damage least on 50,000 ppm pawpaw treated leaf disks. Additional experiments need to be performed to determine the LD50 of ripe pawpaw fruit extracts for striped cucumber beetle. The duration of treatment effectiveness and susceptibility of other pest and beneficial insect pest species to the extracts also need to be determined.