United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service research on natural products for pest management.
Recent research of the Agricultural Research Service of USDA on the use of natural products to manage pests is summarized. Studies of the use of both phytochemicals and diatomaceous earth to manage insect pests are discussed. Chemically characterized compounds, such as a saponin from pepper (Capsicum frutescens L), benzaldehyde, chitosan and 2-deoxy-D-glucose are being studied as natural fungicides. Resin glycosides for pathogen resistance in sweet potato and residues of semi-tropical leguminous plants for nematode control are also under investigation. Bioassay-guided isolation of compounds with potential use as herbicides or herbicide leads is underway at several locations. New natural phytotoxin molecular target sites (asparagine synthetase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase) have been discovered. Weed control in sweet potato and rice by allelopathy is under investigation. Molecular approaches to enhance allelopathy in sorghum are also being undertaken. The genes for polyketide synthases involved in production of pesticidal polyketide compounds in fungi are found to provide clues for pesticide discovery. Gene expression profiles in response to fungicides and herbicides are being generated as tools to understand more fully the mode of action and to rapidly determine the molecular target site of new, natural fungicides and herbicides.
Duke
Stephen O
SO
USDA, ARS, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, PO Box 8048, University, MS 38677, USA. sduke@ars.usda.gov
Baerson
Scott R
SR
Dayan
Franck E
FE
Rimando
Agnes M
AM
Scheffler
Brian E
BE
Tellez
Mario R
MR
Wedge
David E
DE
Schrader
Kevin K
KK
Akey
David H
DH
Arthur
Frank H
FH
De Lucca
Anthony J
AJ
Gibson
Donna M
DM
Harrison
Howard F
HF
Peterson
Joseph K
JK
Gealy
David R
DR
Tworkoski
Thomas
T
Wilson
Charles L
CL
Morris
J Brad
JB
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007313:Insecta / Q000187:drug effects; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States; D016885:United States Department of Agriculture
D001688:Biological Products