Annona spp. agro-industrial waste: sublethal effects, and tissue and histological alterations on the European pepper moth

Resumo

Obtaining derivatives with insecticidal properties from abundant plant biomass (waste) represents a good opportunity to transform environmental problems into innovative solutions for pest management programs. In this study, we evaluated the sublethal interference, tissue and histological alterations of aqueous emulsions prepared from ethanolic seed extracts (ESA) from Annona mucosa and Annona sylvatica on the European pepper moth, Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a major pest of strawberry crops. European pepper moth larvae that fed on strawberry leaves treated with ESA from A. sylvatica presented lower leaf consumption values, lower larval viability, longest pupal period, lower pupal weight. Analysis of the anomalies and deformations of the European pepper moth showed that the larvae exposed to the ESA from A. mucosa and A. sylvatica resulted in macroscopic damage to the surface of the cuticles, including dermatitis, wrinkling of the abdomen, edema, darkening of cuticle surface and decreased movement. Histological alterations in larvae organs and neurotoxic systems were also observed. Our results suggest that aqueous emulsions prepared from ESA of A. mucosa and A. sylvatica, a residue in fruit processing industries (pulp factories), are alternatives for the management of European pepper moth, especially in organic and/or ecological strawberry production systems.