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Avocado kernels, an industrial residue: a source of compounds with insecticidal activity against silverleaf whitefly

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Abstract

Fruit processing waste, such as kernels (endocarp + seed) of avocado [Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae)], could be used as raw material in the preparation of botanical insecticides. In light of this potential, this study assessed the insecticidal action of extracts and fractions from kernels of two avocado cultivars (Breda and Margarida) on Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype B, an important pest species in tropical conditions. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts prepared from kernels of P. americana, regardless of the plant cultivar used, caused promising insecticidal activity to whitefly nymphs. Based on yield in crude extracts [10.32 and 9.85% (w/w), respectively, for cultivars Breda and Margarida], on the bioassay results with crude extracts and on the chemical profiles, the ethanolic extract of kernels of P. americana cv. Breda was chose for the continuation of the study. Thus, the ethanolic extract of kernels of cv. Breda (LC50 = 197.84 ppm and LC90 = 567.19 ppm) was selected and subjected to fractionation by the liquid-liquid partition technique. The hexane and dichloromethane fractions of this extract caused significant mortality of nymphs. The analysis using the ultraviolet (UV) and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) showed the presence of long-chain aliphatic compounds (alkanols or acetogenins of Lauraceae), alkylfurans (or avocadofurans), and unsaturated fatty acids in these fractions, which are possibly related to bioactivity observed in B. tabaci, besides saccharides. The results show that kernels of P. americana are promising sources of compounds with insecticidal action for the control of B. tabaci biotype B, a great opportunity to transform environmental problems into eco-friendly solutions to agriculture.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Institute of Science and Technology in Biorational Insect Pest Control (INCT-CBIP), the Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP, grants 2010/52638-0, 2011/23030-7 and 2012/25299-6), and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, grants 445518/2014-6 and 305377/2019-1) for financial support.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Funding

Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP, grants 2010/52638-0, 2011/23030-7 and 2012/25299-6) and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, grants 445518/2014-6 and 305377/2019-1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13418-900, Brazil

    Sheila Salles de Carvalho & José Djair Vendramim

  2. Research Center for Family Agriculture, Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina (CEPAF/EPAGRI), Rua Servidão Ferdinando Ricieri Tusset S/N - Bairro São Cristóvão, Chapecó, Santa Catarina, CEP 89803-904, Brazil

    Leandro do Prado Ribeiro

  3. Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, São Paulo, 13565-905, Brazil

    Moacir Rossi Forim, Maria Fátima das Graças Fernandes da Silva, Keylla Utherdyany Bicalho & João Batista Fernandes

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  1. Sheila Salles de Carvalho
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Contributions

LPR, SSC, and JDV planed and designed research; SSC and LPR conducted experiments; MRF, MFGFS, KUB, and KBF conducted chemical analysis; LPR, SSC, JDV, and JBF conducted statistical analysis and wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Leandro do Prado Ribeiro.

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de Carvalho, S.S., Ribeiro, L.d., Forim, M.R. et al. Avocado kernels, an industrial residue: a source of compounds with insecticidal activity against silverleaf whitefly. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 2260–2268 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10675-6

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