Clitoria ternatea Extract for Insect Pest Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The Australian cotton industry relies heavily on synthetic pesticides to manage pests, leading to issues like insecticide resistance, environmental impact, and high costs, necessitating the development of alternative strategies for controlling Helicoverpa spp. and other pests.

Innovation Solution

The use of secondary plant compounds (SPCs) derived from Clitoria ternatea, which have insecticidal activity, repel pests, deter egg-laying, and influence feeding behavior, are applied as a composition or method to control insect pests in agricultural crops.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synthetic pesticides are used to manage pests, then pest control effectiveness is improved, but environmental impact increases and insecticide resistance develops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest control effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using plant-derived compounds (phytochemicals) instead of synthetic pesticides. The extract from Clitoria ternatea contains natural insecticidal compounds that maintain pest control effectiveness while reducing environmental harm and avoiding the development of insecticide resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a natural plant extract that can be readily produced and applied, replacing persistent synthetic pesticides with a biodegradable alternative that reduces long-term environmental accumulation and resistance development.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If synthetic pesticides are applied repeatedly, then pest infestation is controlled, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest control effectivenessVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes a plant extract that can be produced from locally available Clitoria ternatea plants, reducing dependency on expensive imported synthetic pesticides. The natural compound profile provides broad-spectrum activity against multiple pest types, reducing the need for repeated applications of different chemicals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If transgenic crops with Bt toxin are used, then lepidopteran pest control is improved, but sucking pests and late-stage larvae remain unaffected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelepidopteran pest controlVSAvoidpest spectrum coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a multi-component plant extract that provides broad-spectrum pest control activity. The extract contains multiple phytochemical compounds that work synergistically to control different pest types including lepidopteran larvae, sucking pests, and chewing insects, making it more versatile than single-toxin transgenic approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2677871B1Control of insect pests

Publication Date: 2019.10.23 INNOVATE AG PTY LTD

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AI summary

A composition for controlling insect pests comprising an extract from Clitoria ternatea comprising SPCs which have insecticidal activity and/or which repel the insect pest and/or deter the insect pest from laying eggs and/or influence the position of egg laying and/or deter the insect pest from feeding on a plant, wherein the composition optionally comprises a carrier.