Comparison effect of ethanolic seed extract of Melia Azedarach L. ‎‎(Meliaceae) against two Aphid species

Background & Aim: Aphids are of serious pests and vectors of multitude of viral diseases of field crops, vegetables, ‎and greenhouse crops. They have displayed a remarkable ability to establish resistance to ‎almost every insecticide with which it has been treated. To reduce the damage of these pests ‎and dependence on the sometimes unwise use of synthetic pesticides in crop and vegetable ‎plantations, the toxicity of ethanolic seed extract of Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) was ‎assayed against 3-4 days-old individuals of Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) ‎‎(Hemiptera: Aphididae).‎ Experimental: In this study, M. azedarach L. seeds were collected from Kerman, Iran. They were milled and ‎powdered and extracted with ethanol (95%) solvent. All experiments with different ‎concentrations were conducted by topical test bioassay in laboratory. The treated aphids were ‎reared at 25±1 °C temperature, relative humidity of 60±10 % and 16 hours of artificial light at ‎an intensity of about 4000 lux. Ethanol (95%) was used as control treatments. ‎ Results & Discussion: The results indicated that in the concentration 60 µl/ml, the mortality of A. gossypii treatment ‎after 24 h was 95% and it was significantly higher than M. persicae treatment (p<0.005). ‎Also the LC50 of ethanol seed extracts of M. azedarach for A. gossypii and M. persicae after ‎‎24 hr was 13.7 and 15.0 µl/ml, respectively.‏‎ It is concluded that the ethanolic seed extract ‎of M. azedarach may be applicable as a safe insecticide to aphid's control in IPM programs‏.‏    Industrial and Practical Recommendations: According to this research, ethanolic seed extract of Melia azedarach L has good pesticide effects and can be used as a low-risk pesticide for controlling aphids in IPM. Due to the less destructive effects of herbal pesticides on humans and environment than chemical ones, these compositions can be recommended as a low-risk pesticide or as a model for making new pesticides for eradicating the pests.