Nowadays, the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais—Motsch 1855 is the most relevant pest found during storage of maize grains. Aiming at protecting the agricultural crops, high amounts of synthetic pesticides are used around the world. In this sense, this work aimed at evaluating the insecticidal and repellent effect of essential oil of Ocotea odorifera (Vellozo) Rohwer (Lauraceae) (O. odorifera (sassafras)) leaves against the maize weevil in maize grains. The essential oil's chemical composition showed that sassafras contains camphor (43%) and safrole (42%) as major compounds. Our results show that sassafras oil was insecticidal and repellent to maize weevil. About 100% mortality was achieved using a concentration of 0.32 μl cm−2, after 24 h of exposure. The LD50 value was 14.1 μl or 0.09 μl cm−2 and the study of the effect on insect mortality at the lethal doses (LD50) showed that after 72 h mortality was 100%. The values of the preference index varied from −0.39 (0.065 μl cm−2) to −0.63 (0.659 μl cm−2), demonstrating that the plant oil presents repellent activity. The repellency bioassay simulating small bins showed the repellent effect level from 0.64 (0.36 μl cm−3) to 0.94 (2.9 μl cm−3). The essential oil of sassafras presented insecticidal and repellency against maize weevil. Although from an economical point of view synthetic chemicals are still more frequently used as repellents, natural products (essential oils) have the potential to provide efficient and safer repellents for humans and the environment.

A full-length cry1Ia gene fragment, obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with a pair of primers designed according to cry1Ia-type gene sequences and DNA from Bacillus thuringiensis as template, was introduced into the expression vector pET-21b and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The molecular weight of the induced expression product was 81.2 kDa. The amino acid sequence of Cry1Ia was very different from sequences of 12 known Cry1Ia-type proteins. This gene was designated as cry1Ia8 by the International B. thuringiensis Insecticidal Protein Nomenclature Committee (accession number AF373207). The bioassay results indicated that Cry1Ia toxin protein showed distinct insecticidal activity against Ostrinia furnacalis and Plutella xylostella with LC50 of 0.268 μg/g and 2.227 μg/ml, respectively. It also had insecticidal activity against Leguminivora glycinivorella, but not against Pyrrhalta aenescens. The novel cry1Ia8 gene will be an important resource in constructing genetically engineered bacteria and transgenic plants for biocontrol of insect pests. It is also available for screening gene stacks to delay pest resistance.

The insecticidal activity of essential oils extracted by steam distillation from six aromatic plants from Togo, Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng., C. citratus (D.C.) Stapf., C. nardus (L.) Rendle, Lippia multiflora Moldemke, Eucalyptus citriodora Hook., Diplolofium africanum Turcz., was tested against the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus F. Concentrations of 6.7; 10.0; 16.7 and 33.3 μ1/1 were evaluated. The chemical composition of the essential oils used was established by GC/MS analysis. Only C. schoenanthus oil showed significant insecticidal activity at 6.7 μl/1 oil (LC50 2.3 μ1/1). At concentrations higher than 33.3 μ1/1, all test plants showed similar insecticidal activity; more than 90% of the test insects died within 24 hours of exposure. Oviposition was also reduced significantly by the essential oil treatments.

A laboratory study was carried out to assess the effects of seed treatment and fumigation of artificially infested cowpea with the volatile oil of air-dried leaves of Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae). The oil exerted acute toxicity on adults of the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus F. upon fumigation. Maximal mortality of 95–97% was inflicted by 60 μl oil. Application of oil dressing on cowpea seed exhibited remarkable insecticidal activity-against the weevil. Significant oviposition deterrency and complete inhibition of emergence of adult insects (F1 offspring) from oil-treated beans were evident at doses of 2.5 μl to 10 μ1/9.5 g beans. No adverse physical effects on the beans were noticed at these doses. The major isolate of the essential oil, precocene I, was four times as active as the oil.

Organosoluble extracts from 55 Turkish medicinal plants were tested under standardised conditions for biological activity against third-instar larvae of mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae. Eight extracts demonstrated significant larvicidal activity, with An. gambiae being more susceptible than Ae. aegypti in all cases. The possibility of using indigenous plants for mosquito control is discussed.

Five natural compounds possessing antiparasitic activity were isolated from East African plants and tested, together with some semisynthetic derivatives, against micro-organisms and arthropods of agricultural interest. Anonaine (1), from Annona squamosa, canthin-6-one(8) and 5-methoxycanthin-6-one (9), from Fagaropsis angolensis, showed fungicidal activity. E,Z-matricarianol (4), from Hoehnelia vernonioides was fungicidal, Insecticidal and acarlcldal. Caryophyllene oxide (12), isolated from Uvaria sp., turned out to be insecticidal and antifeedant. Canthin-6-one (8) and its dihydroderivative 11 were the most effective antimicrobial compounds tested. The possibility ofusing some of the isolated compounds as leads for new synthetic chemicals is discussed.

Bruchidius atrolineatus Pic is a Coleopteran Bruchid developing in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Leguminosae) seeds. This insect causes important damage in tropical countries during storage of cowpea seeds. The influence of some volatile sulfur compounds is studied on adults and larvae of B. atrolineatus. Dimethyl trisulfide and diethyl trisulfide produce the highest mortality to adults, eggs and larvae. The toxicity of the sulfur compounds is higher than that of carbon tetrachloride but is less than that of Dichlorvos at a dosage of 500 g/l. It is suggested that the sulfur compounds produced by the leaves of some tropical plants (Alliaceae, Bignonlaceae, Mimosaceae) could be used for control of Bruchid populations in the stored products.