Insecticidal potential properties of citronellol derived ionic liquid against two major stored grain insect pests

Abstract

An ionic liquid 3-(2-((3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-1-yl)oxy)-2-oxoethyl)-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium chloride was synthesized by simple esterification of citronellol with chloroacetic acid and tested for its insecticidal properties. The present work also includes the comparative account of insecticidal activities of citronellol, ionic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant. The ionic surfactant at concentrations of 5 and 10 µL showed 68 to 88% mortality in Callosobruchus analis F. and 63 to 76% in Sitophilus oryzae L. respectively after 24 hours of treatment. Both the surfactants significantly deterred the majority of females of C. analis from laying eggs on treated seeds than control. The ionic surfactant was most effective in reducing Fl progeny production by causing 96% progeny deterrence followed by 87% progeny deterrence in citronellol. The citronellol and ionic surfactant showed strong inhibition on egg hatchabilities of C. analis even at the lowest concentration. Antifeedant activity evaluated for S. oryzae adults by calculating relative growth rate (RGR), relative consumption rate (RCR), efficiency on conversion of ingested food (ECI) and feeding deterrence indices (FDI), showed increased antifeedant action with increasing doses of all the three compounds.