INSECTICIDAL AND ANTIFEEDANT ACTIVITY OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS FROM ALLIUM ROTUNDUM L.

The species of the genus Allium L., one of the largest genera of higher plants,occupying a significant place in the modern plant world, are of great interest bothfrom the theoretical and from the practical point of view. Plants of Allium spp.accumulate a large amount of carbohydrates, phenolic compounds (flavonoids andits glycosides, coumarins, anthocyanins, catechins), amino acids and organosulfurcompounds, such as allicin – a precursor for alkaloids and saponins formation.Secondary metabolites of Allium spp. have been successfully used during the pastfew decades in plants protection against pests and pathogens. We have earlierreported about high insecticidal and antifeedant properties of extracts from A.subhirsutum L., A. narcissiflorum Vill. and A. ramosum L. The highest insecticidalproperties against imago (20.0%) and larvae (60.0%) of Leptinotarsa decemlineata(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidaea) were demonstrated by extract from aerial part of A.subhirsutum. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the insecticidal,antifeedant and repellent properties of A. rotundum L. extracts against variousspecies of insects. As a result, it was found that the ethanolic extracts from theaerial part possessed the moderate level (40.0%) of insecticidal properties againstthe larvae of the L. decemlineata and low – against the imago (6.7-13.3%).Moreover, the extracts of A. rotundum showed moderate level of insecticidal,antifeedant and repellent activity against the larvae of lepidopterans (cottonbudworm Helicoverpa armigera and wax moths Galleria mellonella).