EVALUATION OF SIX ESSENTIAL OILS FOR CONTROLLING COTTON APHID AND POTENTIAL USE IN THE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36103/9cs4r662Keywords:
cloves, thyme, lavender, rosemary, coriander, botanical insecticides, Aphis gossypiiAbstract
The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the most widespread pests worldwide on host plants, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, in open fields or under greenhouse conditions. Their damage is not only caused by sucking the juice from plant tissue but also by their ability to transmit many viruses. In this study, A. gossypii individuals were collected in the seasons of 2022 and 2023 in order to conduct a series of bioassay experiments to evaluate six essential oils, which were Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), Lavender (Lavandula coronopifolia), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), and Anise (Pimpinella anisum), toward A. gossypii adults in different concentrations under laboratory conditions. Results showed that all tested essential oils had varying effects on A. gossypii adults. The most effective essential oil was Cloves, with an LD50 of 2.98, followed by Thyme and Lavender, with LD50 at 3.28 and 4.40, respectively. While other essential oils, Rosemary, Coriander, and Anise, had fewer effects against A. gossypii. The results suggested that Clove, Thyme, and Lavender essential oils, at the corresponding doses, can be used as insecticides as a safe alternative to synthetic pesticides in both IPM and organic approach farms to manage A. gossypii.
Received: 1/3/2024
Accepted: 2/6/2024
Published: 2026/4/30
References
Abbott, W. S. (1925). A method of computing the effectiveness of an insecticide. Journal of Economic Entomology, 18(2), 265–267.
Ahmed, Q. (2022). Evaluation of tea tree extract formulation for the control of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Capsicum annuum in the glasshouse. Journal of Biopesticides, 15(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.57182/jbiopestic.15.1.31-38
Ahmed, Q. H., & Ren, Y. (2023). Postharvest treatment of celery Apium graveolens using essential oils and cold treatment to control springtails Hypogastrura vernalis (Collembola: Hypogastruridae). Anbar Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 21(2), 298–308. https://doi.org/10.32649/ajas.2023.140838.1045
Ahmed, Q., & Hermize, F. B. (2023). The Presence of Whitefly Bemisia tabaci and Thrips Thrips tabaci on Different Cucumber Plant Hybrid Varieties in the Field Conditions. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1252 (1): 012009. IOP Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1252/1/012009.
Ahmed, Q., Agarwal, M., Al-Obaidi, R., Wang, P., & Ren, Y. (2021). Evaluation of aphicidal effect of essential oils and their synergistic effect against Myzus persicae (Sulzer)(Hemiptera: Aphididae). Molecules, 26(10), 3055. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26103055
Ali, H. B. (2017). Seasonal population abundance of the Chrysanthemum aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) in the middle of Iraq, with a pictorial key to species. Bulletin of the Iraq Natural History Museum, 14(4), 315–328. https://doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2017.14.4.0315
Ali, H. B., & Kamal, R. S. (2018). Faunistic review of the genus Chaitophorus Koch, 1854 (aphididae, chaitophorinae, chaitophorini) with new record species for Iraq aphid fauna. Bulletin of the Iraq Natural History Museum, 15(2), 145–151. https://doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2018.15.2.0145
Alim, M. A., Naher, H., Habib, A. S., & Islam, M. A. (2015). Integrated management of cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, on roof-planted eggplant, Solanum melongena. Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, 43(1), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v43i1.26134.
AL–Jorany, R. S., Yousif, A. H., & Sadik, F. H. (2016). Population density and susceptibility of some varieties of potato to infested by aphid and thrips on spring plantation in the middle of Iraq. Baghdad Science Journal, 13(2), 4. https://doi.org/10.21123/bsj.2016.13.2.0234.
Al-Saidi, S. S., & Al-Obaidy, S. H. (2022). Induced resistance of cucumber Cucumis Sativus L. to whitefly Bemisia Tabaci by silicon. International Journal of Agricultural and Statistical Sciences, 18, 2147–2152. https://doi.org/10.03899/2022.18.2147
Attia, S., Lognay, G., Heuskin, S., & Hance, T. (2016). Insecticidal activity of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. against the pea aphid Acyrtosiphum pisum. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 4(1), 118–122. https://doi.org/10.2268/189996
Bakkali, F., Averbeck, S., Averbeck, D., & Idaomar, M. (2008). Biological effects of essential oils–a review. Food and chemical toxicology, 46(2), 446–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2007.09.106.
Blackman, R. L., & Eastop, V. F. (1984). Aphids on the World's Crops. An identification and information guide (No. Ed. 2). John Wiley and Sons Ltd. 466 P.
Castilhos, R. V., Grützmacher, A. D., & Coats, J. R. (2018). Acute Toxicity and Sublethal Effects of Terpenoids and Essential Oils on the Predator Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Neotropical entomology, 47(2), 311–317.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-017-0547-6
Chiasson, H., Bélanger, A., Bostanian, N., Vincent, C., & Poliquin, A. (2001). Acaricidal properties of Artemisia absinthium and Tanacetum vulgare (Asteraceae) essential oils obtained by three methods of extraction. Journal of Economic Entomology, 94(1), 167–171.
https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-0493-94.1.167
Dumra, N., Rolania, K., Khalaf, L. K., Yadav, S. S., Mandhania, S., Sharma, Y. K., & Choudhary, A. (2024). Comparative evaluation of sublethal doses of different insecticides on the ovipositional behavior of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in Brinjal. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 36(2), 103070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2023.103070.
Hadi, F. A. (2017). Effect of microwave rays on nymphs of Green Peach: Homoptera 1776 (Sulzer)(Myzus persicae (Aphids Aphididae). Ibn AL-Haitham Journal for Pure and Applied Science, 28(1), 253–260.
Heilsnis, B., Mahas, J. B., Conner, K., Pandey, S., Clark, W., Koebernick, J., & Jacobson, A. L. (2023). Characterizing the vector competence of Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae, and Aphis craccivora (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to transmit cotton leafroll dwarf virus to cotton in the United States. Journal of Economic Entomology, 116(3), 719–725. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad080
Isman, M. B. (2000). Plant essential oils for pest and disease management. Crop protection, 19(8-10), 603–608. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-2194(00)00079-X
Isman, M. B. (2006). Botanical insecticides, deterrents, and repellents in modern agriculture and an increasingly regulated world. Annual review of entomology, 51(1), 45–66. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.151146.
Isman, M.B. (2020a). Commercial development of plant essential oils and their constituents as active ingredients in bioinsecticides. Phytochemistry Reviews, 19: 235–241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-019-09653-9.
Isman, M.B. (2020b). Botanical Insecticides in the Twenty-first Century—Fulfilling Their Promise? Annual Review of Entomology, 65: 233–249. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-011019-025010.
Karamanoli, K., Ainalidou, A., Bouzoukla, F., & Vokou, D. (2018). Decomposition profiles of leaf essential oils in the soil environment. Industrial Crops and Products, 124, 397–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.07.082.
Khalaf, A. S., & Ahmed, Q. H. (2025). The Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oils on Eggplant Cultivars Infested with the Cotton Aphid (Aphis Gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae)) Under Greenhouse Conditions. Anbar Journal of Agriculture Sciences, 23(1): 173–184. https://doi.org/10.32649/ajas.2024.152208.1349.
Li, R., Cheng, S., Chen, Z., Guo, T., Liang, P., Zhen, C., & Gao, X. (2022). Establishment of toxicity and susceptibility baseline of broflanilide for Aphis gossypii Glove. Insects, 13(11), 1033. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13111033.
Mousavi, M., & Valizadegan, O. (2014). Insecticidal effects of Artemisia dracunculus L. (Asteraceae) essential oil on adult of Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under laboratory conditions. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, 47(14), 1737-1745. https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2013.856098.
Nejad, F. Y., Radjabi, R., & Palvaneh, N. (2013). A review on evaluation of plant essential oils against pests in Iran. Persian Gulf Crop Protection, 2(4).
Oulebsir-Mohandkaci, H., Ait Kaki, S., & Doumandji-Mitiche, B. (2015). Essential oils of two Algerian aromatic plants, Thymus vulgaris and Eucalyptus globulus, as bio-insecticides against aphid Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae). Wulfenia journal, 22(2), 185–197.
Patima, W. M. E. H., Guo, P. P., Ma, S. J., Gao, X. W., Zhang, L. J., Zhang, S., & Ma, D. Y. (2019). Resistance of different field populations of Aphis gossypii to ten insecticides in Xinjiang. Plant Protection, 45(6), 273–278.
Raed, A., Ahmed, Q., & Arif, M. A. (2022). Behavioural Response of Whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Towards Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted from Eggplant Leaves. Al-Mustansiriyah Journal of Science, 33(5), 95–100.
Rawat, D. (2021). Essential oils in organic agriculture: A review of practices and potential. Natural Volatiles & Essential Oils, 8(2), 182–189.
Sabr, S. H. (2010). Influence of the Surrounding Plants by Rapeseed Field on Population Density of Cabbage Aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) and its Biological Enemies. Baghdad Science Journal, 7(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.21123/bsj.2010.7.1.246-253.
Saıfı, R., Saıfı, H., Akca, İ., Benabadelkader, M., Askın, A. K., & Belghoul, M. (2023). Insecticidal and repellent effects of Mentha longifolia L. essential oil against Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, 10(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-023-00395-7.
Szczepanik, M., Zawitowska, B., & Szumny, A. (2012). Insecticidal activities of Thymus vulgaris essential oil and its components (thymol and carvacrol) against larvae of lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Allelopathy J, 30(1), 129–142.
Tian, B. L., Liu, Q. Z., Liu, Z. L., Li, P., & Wang, J. W. (2015). Insecticidal potential of clove essential oil and its constituents on Cacopsylla chinensis (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in laboratory and field. Journal of Economic Entomology, 108(3), 957–961. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov075.
Tomova, B. S., Waterhouse, J. S., & Doberski, J. (2005). The effect of fractionated Tagetes oil volatiles on aphid reproduction. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 115(1), 153–159. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2005.00291.x.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Alaa Salim, Qasim Ahmed
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
2.jpg)
