MSU Technologies

050077: Plant Extracts from Verbascum Species with Antifeed Propertyies for Arthopods

Description:

Many plant species produce noxious chemicals to kill or otherwise inhibit insect feeding activity. Many of these secondary metabolites are very potent and often very specific. Extracts from these plants can be used as environmentally safe bio-pesticides for crops or other plants such as flowers to inhibit insect damage, often as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program. These extracts are of particular interest for organic food production. Furthermore, if the specific identity of active compounds can be ascertained and are novel, then these compounds can be made by chemical synthesis and act as lead compounds for the generation of more selective or more potent analogues of interest to the agro-chemical industry.

Description

This invention is a simple plant extract prepared specifically from Verbascum species, that have not previously been investigated as a source of bio-pesticide compounds. This extract shows strong antifeedent activity against various arthropod species, including Colorado Potato Beetle. The extract can be formulated and used as an environmentally safe bio-pesticide.

Additional purification and chemical characterization of the active compounds provides leads for chemical synthesis activities.

Benefits

Environmentally safe: Plant-based bio-pesticides are generally regarded as safe and have low regulatory registration requirements. In addition, they can be used directly by the organic food industry.
Low-cost: Simple plant extraction process that can produce large yield of active bio-pesticide requiring minimal formulation.
Low application rate: Plant extracts with very potent antifeedent properties require reduced application rates and frequencies.
Broad specificity: Plant extracts may contain multiple active ingredients that can extend the range of pests that can be managed.

Applications

A bio-active plant extract can be produced from harvested Verbascum and formulated as an antifeedent compound against arthropod pests, primarily for use in the organic food production industry where natural extracts are regarded as environmentally benign.

The identification of individual bio-active compounds from the extract could be a lead-generation process for the agro-chemical industry to synthesize these compounds directly or to generate more refined analogs.