The quest for blemish-free ‘Cavendish’ banana using matrine, a natural derivative of shrubby sophora (Sophora flavescens Aiton)

Issue Date

10-2017

Abstract

Matrine is a new broad spectrum biological insecticide. It is a natural derivative extracted from the leaves and roots of shrubby sophora, Sophora flavescens Aiton, a legume from which various bioactive compounds have been reported. Of these compounds, matrine, a quinolozidine alkaloid, is bioactive againts various insect pests, pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and nematodes. To test whether matrine can effectively control flower thrips. Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan), which causes corky scabbing on banana fruit, an experiment was conducted through bud injection. Matrine at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 ml/L of water was statistically comparable to the commercial insecticide Abamectin 1.8SL at 4.0 ml/L of water, in managing the trips population on Cavendish banana three days after bud injection. In terms of percentage of fruits with thrips oviposition damage, fruits applied with matrine at 1.5 ml/L obtained the highest mean with slight damage and the least with severe damage. In terms of brown scab/water soak damage, Abamectin 1.8SL at 4.0ml/L of water and matrine at 0.5 ml/L of water gave superior result obtaining the highest clean fruits recovered. Among treatments, matrine at 0.5 ml/L and 1.0 ml/L of water gave superior results obtaining the highest-Class A fruits. Thus, matrine can effectively control blemishes caused by T. Hawaiiensis and is a potential alternative to synthetic commercial insecticides.

Source or Periodical Title

The Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

31

Issue

2

Page

162

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

BANANAS; FRUITS; THRIPS; PESTS OF PLANTS; BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS; SOPHORA; ALKALOIDS; QUINOLINE ALKALOIDS; BIOLOGICAL INSECTICIDES; INSECTICIDES; PESTICIDES

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS