title: The Toxicology and Biochemical Characterization of Cantharidin on Cydia pomonella.
abstract: Cantharidin, a natural toxin produced by beetles in the families Meloidae and Oedemeridae, reported to be toxic to some pests, is being developed as a biopesticide in China. This study evaluates the toxicity and biochemical characterization of cantharidin on the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), an economically important fruit pest, under both laboratory and field conditions. Laboratory dose response bioassays showed that the LC50 value of cantharidin against neonate larvae was 0.057 mg ml(-1). Exposure of the larvae to 0.024 and 0.057 mg ml(-1) of cantharidin resulted in significant reduction in larval body weight. Neonate larvae exposed to LC10 of cantharidin showed increased glutathione S-transferase activity and significantly reduced the carboxylesterase and cytochrome P450-dependent mixed-function oxidase activities. Results also showed 16 and 25% ovicidal activity at concentrations of 0.057 and 0.14 mg ml(-1) of cantharidin, respectively. Field trials demonstrated cantharidin has a significant effect on both the first and second generations of C. pomonella larvae, but it exhibits a lower control efficiency than the chemical reference emamectin benzoate. Cantharidin may be considered a valuable tool for the control of codling moth.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources & Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China. These authors contributed equally to this work.
authors.forename: Zheng-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources & Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China. These authors contributed equally to this work. College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources & Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China. yalinzh@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ya-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002193:Cantharidin; D007814:Larva / Q000201:enzymology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009036:Moths / Q000201:enzymology; D010058:Oviposition; D010063:Ovum
chemical_list: D002193:Cantharidin
keywords: biopesticide; cantharidin; codling moth; detoxifying enzymes; toxicant