title: Identification of triterpenoid feeding deterrent of red pumpkin beetles (Aulacophora foveicollis) fromMomordica charantia.
abstract: The triterpenoids isolated from the leaves ofMomordica charantia Linn (bitter gourd) were found to elicit feeding-deterrent activity against red pumpkin beetles (Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas). The most abundant triterpenoid which deterred feeding was identified as momordicine II, 23-O-β-glucopyranoside of 3,7,23-trihydroxycucurbita-5,24-dien-19-al. A concentration of 3200μg/ml and above of the triterpenoids caused significant reduction of feeding by red pumpkin beetles in in vitro bioassay experiments, which compared favorably with the levels of triterpenoids inM. charantia leaves found in nature.
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Hessaraghatta, 560 089, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Chandravadana