Toxicity and Repellent Activity of Some Plant Essential Oils Against the Cotton Aphid, Aphis gossypii

The fumigant, repellent, contact toxicity, and phytotoxicity of essential oils from Mentha pulegium, M. piperita, Cuminum cyminum, and Myrtus communis were investigated against the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover). GC- MS analyzed the composition of essential oil. The primary constituents of the essential oils from M. pulegium, C. cyminum, M. piperita, and M. communis were pulegone (63.88%), cuminic aldehyde (28.20%), menthol (36.94%), and 1, 8-Cineole (36.13%), respectively. The LC50 toxicity values showed that the essential oil from M. pulegium was the most toxic against A. gossypii. In the contact toxicity bioassay, the essential oil of C. cyminum was more harmful than the others. All formulations, except for M. piperita had a repellent effect on adult aphids. When used at the highest tested doses, all formulations of essential oils caused phytotoxicity to the cucumber leaves. Based on our results, the essential oils of M. pulegium, C. cyminum, M. piperita, and M. communis plants could be developed into effective fumigants.