Application of erythritol in repelling potato coleopteran pests

Abstract

The invention relates to application of erythritol in repelling potato coleoptera pests, and belongs to the technical field of pest repelling agents. When the erythritol is used as the repellent, potato beetles and potato ladybirds can be effectively repelled on the premise of ensuring that potato leaves are not damaged, and the harm of the potato beetles and the potato ladybirds to potatoes is reduced; the method is easy to operate, high in safety, low in material price and suitable for application and popularization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to application of erythritol in repelling potato coleopteran pests, belonging to the technical field of pest repellents. Background Art

[0002] Potatoes are the fourth largest food crop in the world because of their high yield, strong adaptability, and rich nutrition. They are both a food and a high-quality feed, and are also raw materials for food processing and various industries. However, potatoes are very susceptible to various insect pests throughout their growth process.

[0003] potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa ​​decemlineata ), potato beetle ( Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata The potato beetle (Coleoptera: Leptinotarsa ​​decemlineata) and the Motschulsky decemlineata are two major coleopteran pests that severely damage potatoes and other Solanaceae crops. The potato beetle, a devastating foliage-feeding pest, is one of the most destructive potato pests worldwide. Both adults and larvae feed on potato leaves, often devouring them completely, leaving only the veins. In severe cases, they can completely devour entire fields of potato plants in a short period of time, demonstrating their exceptional feeding capacity. These insects are incredibly prolific, producing multiple generations annually and are easily spread long distances on agricultural products and transportation vehicles. They develop resistance to chemical pesticides, making their control extremely difficult. Both adults and larvae of the potato beetle (Coccinella decemlineata) are injurious. Larvae primarily feed on the mesophyll of Solanaceae crops such as potatoes, eggplants, and tomatoes, leaving numerous parallel, transparent, linear patterns. They also damage fruit (such as eggplant and tomatoes) and tender stems. Adults and larger larvae consume the leaves, leaving only the veins. Although they typically don't consume entire plants in the short time it takes beetles to do so, persistent damage can weaken plant growth, reduce photosynthetic efficiency, and impact the yield and quality of tubers or fruit. Both are significant potato coleopteran pests, and effective control measures are urgently needed.

[0004] Current potato pest control measures include enhanced quarantine, crop rotation, and manual trapping. Chemical pesticides are also primarily used, but this approach is facing severe challenges. Studies have shown that the intensification of production and large-scale cultivation in the potato industry has accelerated the evolution of insecticide resistance. The potato beetle has developed resistance to a variety of insecticides, including mainstream agents such as neonicotinoids and pyrethroids. The potato beetle is also showing a decreasing sensitivity to conventional pesticides in Asian producing areas. This resistance not only increases control costs but also forces farmers to frequently increase pesticide dosages, creating a vicious cycle in which increased dosage leads to greater resistance and further dependence on pesticides (Complexities in the implementation and maintenance of integrated pest management in potato [J]. Gao Y, Alyokhin A, Prager SM, et al. Annual Review of Entomology, 2024, 70.).

[0005] Repellents are substances that actively keep pests away from target areas. Their advantages are further highlighted in integrated pest management (IPM). Unlike insecticides, which directly kill pests, repellents interfere with the pests' sense of smell or vision, reducing their chance of contact with crops and mitigating damage at the source. This is particularly important for insecticide-resistant pests like the potato beetle.

[0006] Erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol, scientifically known as 1,2,3,4-tetrabutanol, with a molecular formula of C4H 10 O4, with a molecular weight of 122.1198 and a structure as shown in Formula I, has been shown to have stomach poisoning or antifeedant effects on some insects (fruit flies, termites, and cockroaches), and its main mechanism of action is lethal starvation and dehydration effects.

[0007]

[0008] Formula I.

[0009] Currently, research on erythritol for controlling potato coleopteran pests remains underdeveloped. However, existing evidence demonstrates its biosafety and environmental compatibility: it is widely used as a food additive, is non-toxic to mammals, and is naturally degradable in soil, leaving no residual pollution. This invention not only provides a new, green pest control solution for potato pests, but also offers a reference for pest management in other Solanaceae crops, promoting the upgrading of IPM technology across the entire Solanaceae industry chain. Summary of the Invention

[0010] In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides the use of erythritol in repelling potato coleopteran pests.

[0011] The technical solutions of the present invention are as follows: Application of erythritol in repelling potato coleopteran pests.

[0012] Preferably according to the present invention, the potato coleopteran pests include potato beetles and potato ladybugs.

[0013] According to the present invention, the crop targeted by the application is potato.

[0014] Application of erythritol in the preparation of potato coleopteran pest repellent.

[0015] Preferably according to the present invention, the potato coleopteran pests include potato beetles and potato ladybugs.

[0016] A potato coleopteran pest repellent comprises an effective amount of erythritol.

[0017] Preferably according to the present invention, the potato coleopteran pests include potato beetles and potato ladybugs.

[0018] Preferably, according to the present invention, the dosage form of the potato coleopteran pest repellent is a liquid preparation, and the concentration of erythritol is 30-40 mg / mL.

[0019] Further preferably, the concentration of erythritol is 36 mg / mL.

[0020] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the potato coleopteran pest repellent is used by foliar spraying at a spraying rate of 20-40 μL / cm 2 , spray evenly.

[0021] Beneficial effects: When used as a repellent, erythritol can effectively repel potato beetles and potato ladybugs while ensuring that potato leaves are not damaged, thereby reducing the damage caused by potato beetles and potato ladybugs to potatoes; this method is simple to operate, highly safe, and has low material prices, making it suitable for promotion and application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is the state diagram of potato beetles feeding on potato leaves at 0h, 6h, and 12h; Figure 2 Bar graph showing the leaf area eaten by potato beetles every half hour; t=3.769, df=32, p<0.01; Figure 3 This is the status diagram of potato beetles feeding on potato leaves at 0h, 6h, and 12h; Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the Y-type olfactometer experiment; Figure 5 The results of the Y-type olfactometer experiment; a is a pie chart showing the number of different treatment groups, and b is a statistical chart showing the number of water-treated control group and erythritol-treated group; Figure 6 This is the status diagram of potato beetles feeding on tomato leaves at 0h, 24h, 48h, and 72h; Figure 7 These are the status diagrams of potato beetles feeding on pepper leaves at 0h, 24h, 48h, and 72h. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the embodiments and the accompanying drawings, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0024] In the examples, the contents without specific conditions were carried out under conventional conditions; the reagents or instruments used without specifying the manufacturer were all common commercial products.

[0025] Preparation of erythritol solution: Weigh 3.6 g of erythritol and dissolve it in 100 mL of deionized water to obtain an erythritol solution at room temperature.

[0026] Selection of insect sources and plants: Select adult potato beetles or potato ladybugs of the same size and starve them for 24 hours before use; the plants used in the experiment are potatoes (Enshi potatoes, variety: Marco). The planting method is to cut the potatoes into blocks, plant the potato blocks with buds in nutrient soil (Tuopu, Shouguang Yixiandu Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.), cover them with soil, water them appropriately, and use them after they have grown into seedlings.

[0027] Example 1 Experiment on feeding of potato beetles on potato leaves Select potato plants with good growth, cut off their leaves along the petiole, and spray them with the above-prepared erythritol solution at a spraying rate of 40 μL / cm 2 , sprayed evenly. To prevent the leaves from wilting due to lack of water during the experiment, soaked cotton wool and wrapped the petioles. The sprayed leaves were then placed in 90mm petri dishes and placed at room temperature. Three parallel groups were set up: treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and treatment group 3. The control group was sprayed with water and treated in the same way. Three parallel groups were set up: control group 1, control group 2, and control group 3. After the treatment, a potato beetle of the same size was placed in each petri dish. The growth status of the leaves and the degree of biting by the potato beetles were observed and photographed every half hour to record the growth status and the degree of biting by the potato beetles. The average leaf area eaten every half hour was calculated to determine the repellent effect of the erythritol solution on the potato beetles. The observation was continuous for 12 hours.

[0028] The results are as follows Figure 1 、 Figure 2 The results showed that the area of ​​potato beetles bitten on leaves in the control group was significantly greater than that in the treatment group (P<0.01). Observation of leaf photos showed that over time, the degree of damage to leaves in the control group was significantly higher than that in the treatment group, indicating that spraying erythritol solution on potato leaves has a significant repellent effect on potato beetles, effectively reducing their feeding on potato leaves.

[0029] Example 2 Experiment on feeding of potato beetles on potato leaves Potato plants with good growth were selected, their leaves were cut along the petioles, and the above-prepared erythritol solution was sprayed respectively. The spraying method and spraying amount were the same as in Example 1. In order to prevent the leaves from withering due to lack of water during the experiment, absorbent cotton was soaked and wrapped around the petioles. The sprayed leaves were then placed in a 90 mm culture dish and placed at room temperature. Three parallel groups were set up, namely treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and treatment group 3; the control group was sprayed with water and treated in the same way. Three parallel groups were set up, namely control group 1, control group 2, and control group 3. After the treatment, two potato beetles of the same size were placed in each culture dish. The growth status of the leaves and the degree of biting by the potato beetles were observed and photographed every half an hour to record the effect of the erythritol solution on the repellency of the potato beetles. The observation was continued for 12 hours.

[0030] The results are as follows Figure 3 As shown in the data, the leaves in the control group were more severely damaged and yellowed by the potato beetles, while the leaves in the treatment group were less damaged, indicating that spraying erythritol solution has a certain repellent effect on potato beetles, which can significantly reduce their feeding on potato leaves and delay the yellowing and wilting of leaves.

[0031] Example 3 Y-type olfactometer experiment A Y-shaped olfactometer was used to measure the behavioral responses of potato beetles to potato plants sprayed with an erythritol solution. The control group consisted of potato plants treated with water, while the treated group consisted of potato plants treated with an erythritol solution. The spraying method and spray rate were the same as in Example 1. The test was conducted after a 2-hour wait period after the plants were treated. The Y-shaped olfactometer was placed in a square kitchen with an open front and illuminated by a horizontal fluorescent lamp 25 cm above it. The two arms of the Y-shaped olfactometer were connected to a flavor source bottle via Teflon tubing. Two groups of potato plants in the four- to five-leaf stage treated with the above steps were placed in the flavor source bottle. The flower pots were removed and the soil balls were tightly wrapped with aluminum foil. Before the airflow entered the flavor source bottle, it passed through an activated carbon filter and a color-changing silica gel bottle to purify the air and control the air humidity. During the measurement, the potato beetles were introduced into the straight tube of the Y-shaped olfactometer, and the behavioral responses of the potato beetles were recorded over a 5-minute period.

[0032] The selection criteria are as follows: when a potato beetle crawls to the selection area of ​​a certain arm and stays in the arm for more than 1 minute or reaches the exit, the beetle is recorded as having made a choice of the odor source of the arm; if the beetle has not made a choice after 5 minutes of introduction, the behavioral observation of the beetle is terminated and recorded as not having made a choice. The entire measurement process is carried out indoors at (27±2)°C. For every 5 potato beetles measured, the Y-type olfactometer is changed in position, and the Y-type olfactometer is cleaned with 95% ethanol and blown dry with hot air and cooled. The schematic diagram of the specific experiment is shown in the figure below. Figure 4 shown.

[0033] The experimental results are as follows Figure 5 As shown in Figures a and b, of the 76 tested potato beetles, 36 chose neither, 33 chose the water-treated control, and only 7 chose the erythritol-treated group, a significant difference. Since erythritol has no volatile odor at room temperature, this experiment suggests that when applied to potato plants, it induces the plants to produce a specific odor, effectively repelling potato beetles.

[0034] Combined with the results of the leaf feeding experiment, erythritol solution has a good repellent effect on both potato beetles and potato ladybugs, and can reduce the pests' feeding behavior on leaves.

[0035] Comparative Example 1 Experiment on feeding of potato beetles on tomato leaves Tomato plants (Zhongza No. 9) with good growth were selected and their leaves were cut along the petiole. To prevent the leaves from wilting due to lack of water during the experiment, deionized water was placed in a 1.5 mL centrifuge tube. After soaking absorbent cotton, the petiole was wrapped and placed in the centrifuge tube. The treatment group was sprayed with an erythritol solution, while the control group was sprayed with deionized water. The spraying method and spraying rate were the same as in Example 1. The sprayed leaves were then placed in a 90 mm culture dish and left at room temperature. After the treatment was completed, two potato beetles of the same size were placed in each culture dish. The growth of the leaves and the extent of beetle feeding were observed and photographed every 24 hours to determine the repellent effect of the erythritol solution on the beetles. The observations were continued for 72 hours.

[0036] The results are as follows Figure 6 As shown, the degree of leaf damage in the treatment group and the control group was basically the same, indicating that spraying tomato leaves with erythritol solution failed to show a significant effect of repelling potato beetles.

[0037] Comparative Example 2 Experiment on feeding of potato beetles on pepper leaves Selected pepper plants (Pepper chinensis) with good growth, their leaves were cut along the petiole. To prevent the leaves from wilting due to lack of water during the experiment, deionized water was placed in a 1.5mL centrifuge tube, and absorbent cotton was soaked and wrapped around the petiole. The petiole was placed in the centrifuge tube. The treatment group was sprayed with erythritol solution, while the control group was sprayed with deionized water. The spraying method and spraying rate were the same as in Example 1. The sprayed leaves were then placed in a 90mm culture dish and placed at room temperature. After the treatment was completed, two potato beetles of the same size were placed in each culture dish. The growth of the leaves and the extent of potato beetle feeding were observed and photographed every 24 hours to determine the repellent effect of the erythritol solution on potato beetles. The observations were continued for 72 hours.

[0038] The results are as follows Figure 7 As shown, the degree of leaf damage in the treatment group and the control group was basically the same, indicating that spraying pepper leaves with erythritol solution failed to show a significant effect of repelling potato beetles.

[0039] The above examples show that spraying potato plants with erythritol solution can effectively repel potato coleopteran pests and has no adverse effects on the growth of potato plants. It can be widely used in green prevention and control of potato pests.

[0040] The above embodiments are preferred implementation modes of the present invention, but the implementation modes of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments. Any other changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, and simplifications that do not deviate from the spirit and principles of the present invention should be considered as equivalent replacement methods and are included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. Application of erythritol in repelling potato coleopteran pests.

2. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that The potato coleopteran pests include potato beetles and potato ladybugs.

3. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that The crop targeted by the application is potato.

4. Application of erythritol in the preparation of potato coleopteran pest repellent.

5. The use according to claim 4, characterized in that The potato coleopteran pests include potato beetles and potato ladybugs.

6. A potato coleopteran pest repellent, characterized in that: Includes effective levels of erythritol.

7. The potato coleopteran pest repellent according to claim 6, wherein The potato coleopteran pests include potato beetles and potato ladybugs.

8. The potato coleopteran pest repellent according to claim 6, wherein The dosage form of the potato coleopteran pest repellent is a liquid preparation, and the concentration of erythritol is 30-40 mg / mL.

9. The potato coleopteran pest repellent according to claim 8, wherein The concentration of the erythritol is 36 mg / mL.

10. The potato coleopteran pest repellent according to claim 6, characterized in that: The method of use is foliar spraying, with a spraying rate of 20~40 μL / cm 2 , spray evenly.

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