Laboratory assessment of powder, essential oil and plant extract of clove, Syzygium aromaticum on the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella in comparsion with chlorantraniliprole insecticide

Potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella is considered as one of the most serious insect pests infesting plants in the family Solanaceae. The indiscriminate utilization of chemical pesticides has caused problems such as environmental pollution, development of resistance in insect pests and undesirable effects on human and non-target organisms. Plant-based materials are one of the appropriate candidates as an alternative to synthetic chemical compounds that have the lowest risk to the environment. In this research, the insecticidal toxicity of chlorantraniliprole on different biological stages of P. operculella was compared with powder, essential oil and extract of Syzygium aromaticum. Oviposition-preference activity of adults and larval penetration rate were also studied. Based on probit analysis, the most sensitive stages to chlorantraniliprole, essential oil and extract of S. aromaticum were larvae (LC50= 3.39 mg/l), adults (LC50= 0.43 µl/l air) and adults (LC50= 241.54 mg/l), respectively. Although, chlorantraniliprole was effective in reducing the larval penetration rate, it did not have a significant effect on oviposition preference of adults. The results of this study showed that powder, essential oil and extract of S. aromaticum have a good potential to protect stored potatoes from P. operculella infestation and can be used for management programs of this pest.