ES2875230B2 - Volatile compounds for use in pest control of Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

VOLATILE COMPOUNDS FOR USE IN THE CONTROL OF PESTS OF Oxvthvrea funesta , Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention belongs to the field of agri-food, in the area of pest control in agriculture, specifically in the cultivation of vines.

STATE OF THE ART

The insects Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida (Coleoptera: Scarabs), called tall horned insects or “flower beetles”, generally coexist with the vines without causing damage. However, at the time of budding, in spring-summer these insects are considered a pest because they feed on buds, clusters in formation and tender shoots of the vine, causing damage to crops as well as injuries with the hooks of the legs by holding on to the shoots.

As Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida feed on shoots and flowers, the largest field of study on these insects has been developed in flower attractant compounds with traps of different colors.

For the control of Oxythyrea funesta , combinations of traps and volatile compounds have been described, such as dark traps with floral baits composed of (±)-lavandulol and 2-phenylethanol, commercial CSALOMON® traps baited with (±)-lavandulol and 2-phenylethanol or traps baited with the compound trans-anethole (1-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl) benzene).

Tropinota hirta has been tried to control with combinations of traps of different colors and volatile compounds; for example, yellow, white and blue traps baited with a mixture of cinnamyl alcohol and trans-anethole; dark traps with commercial floral baits composed of (±)-lavandulol and 2-phenylethanol; commercial CSALOMON® traps baited with (±)-lavandulol and 2-phenylethanol; or also typically traps baited with trans-anethole alone or combined with cinnamyl alcohol (3-phenyl-2-propen-l-ol); white or blue traps baited with the floral attractant (E)-cinnamyl plus (E)-anethole, which is a floral attractant optimized for Epicometis hirta ; and commercial CSALOMON® traps baited with (±)-lavandulol and 2-phenylethanol.

For the control of Tropinota squalida , combinations of traps and volatile compounds have been used, such as, for example, blue traps, traps with the attractants (E)-cinnamyl alcohol (3-phenyl-2-propenyl alcohol) and (E)- anethole ((E)-4-propenylmethoxybenzene); white or blue traps baited with the floral attractant (E)-cinnamyl plus (E)-anethol; and commercial CSALOMON® traps baited with (±)-lavandulol and 2-phenylethanol.

However, these floral compounds are usually nonspecific and can affect beneficial insects. The same happens with other volatile compounds present in the affected plants.

Consequently, to date, there is no specific attractant compound for the control of Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida in grapevine cultivation.

The volatile compounds 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one, and hexanol have been used as insect attractants in the art. For example, nonanal and hexanol have been used as part of an attractant composition for the control of Diocalandra frumenti species in palm trees. Nonanal has also been used as part of an attractant composition for adult longhorn beetles. Hexanol and geranyl acetone have been used as pest repellant agents. 1-octen-3-ol has been used as part of a slow-release attractant composition against insects that cause damage to rice.

However, they have not been used to control grapevine pests, much less specifically to control the insects Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida.

The technical problem can be considered as obtaining specific attractants for the control of pests of Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida in grapevine cultivation. The solution of the present invention is the use of the volatile compounds 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one and/or hexanol.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of the volatile compounds 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one and hexanol, for the control of insect pests Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and/or Tropinota squalida .

In a preferred aspect, the compounds of the invention are used individually, that is, without being combined with each other and without any other attracting compound. Thus, to attract insects, it is possible to use a single volatile compound of the invention, namely any of 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one or hexanol.

In yet another preferred aspect, a combination of at least two of the volatile compounds of the invention is used. For example, a combination of two of the volatile compounds can be used as follows: a) 1-octen-3-ol and nonanal, b) 1-octen-3-ol and geranyl acetone, c) 1-octen-3- ol and octan-2-one, d) 1-octen-3-ol and hexanol; e) nonanal and geranyl acetone, f) nonanal and octan-2-one, g) nonanal and hexanol, h) geranyl acetone and octan-2-one, i) geranyl acetone and hexanol and j) octan-2-one and hexanol. In another preferred aspect, a combination of three or four of the volatile compounds of the invention may be used. It is also possible to use a combination of all the volatile compounds of the invention.

In another preferred aspect, the volatile compounds of the invention are used in combination with an additional attracting compound to enhance the attracting effect or broaden the spectrum of insects to be controlled. In this way, at least one compound of the invention (for example, one, two or three of the compounds of the invention) can be combined with some other insect-attracting compound.

When the compounds of the invention are used in combination with an additional attractant compound, the volume ratio of compound of the invention to additional attractant may vary from 1:10 to 10:1, preferably from 1:5 to 5:1, more preferably from 1:3 to 3:1, including 1:2 to 2:1 and 1:1.

Within the scope of the present invention, the use of either i) a combination of at least two compounds of the invention, or ii) a combination of at least one compound of the invention with an additional attractant compound, may comprise a composition or co-formulation containing the compounds, or by the simultaneous application of the compounds separately without mixing between them in the liquid state.

The additional attracting compound is preferably ethanol, and its most preferable use is simultaneous application with one of the volatile compounds of the invention, without mixing between them in the liquid state.

The volatile compounds of the invention can be used in pure or impure form. Preferably, the purity of the volatile compounds of the invention is at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, and more preferably at least 90% dry. In preferred aspects, the purity is at least 98% in 1-octen-3-ol, at least 95% in nonanal, at least 97% in geranyl-acetone, at least 98% in 2-octanone, and at least 99% in in dry 1-hexanol.

The present invention also relates to an attractant composition comprising at least one volatile compound selected from 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one and hexanol and appropriate adjuvants.

In a further preferred aspect, the composition comprises a single volatile compound selected from 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one, and hexanol.

In another preferred aspect, the composition comprises an additional attracting compound to enhance the attracting effect or broaden the spectrum of insects to be controlled, as described.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the volatile compounds of the invention can be formulated in liquid or solid form. Accordingly, adjuvants acting as liquid or solid carriers may preferably be used in order to prepare the composition. Examples of liquid carriers include aqueous or organic solvents, such as polyols, esters, alcohols, vegetable and mineral oils. Examples of solid carriers include wood, cellulose flour and powder, and absorbent polymethacrylate products.

In another preferred aspect, said adjuvants are selected from sugars, insecticides or pesticides. Any additional component must have no harmful effects on grape production, the environment and/or human health. In a very preferable aspect, the composition of the invention is free of chemical compounds that may remain in the final product, for example, table grapes and/or wine.

The volatile compounds of the invention and the attractant composition of the invention can be applied or spread using a variety of techniques known to those skilled in the art; for example, by an exposed solution or by impregnating them in an absorption material or some other substrate.

The volatile compounds can be used in conjunction with any suitable type of trap or attractant spreader known in the art. Preferably, the compounds are used with an insect trapping trap.

Therefore, in a more preferable aspect, the present invention is a trap for pest control of Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida, which contains at least one volatile compound selected from the group consisting of 1-octen-3-ol , nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one, and hexanol. The compounds attract the insects Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida from surrounding areas to the trap, which may contain a mechanical component to trap or kill the insect and/or a chemical or biological agent to kill, reduce or prevent reproduction. of the insect.

The trap of the invention may comprise a single volatile compound of the invention, a combination of at least two of the volatile compounds of the invention, or a combination of at least one compound of the invention with an additional attractant compound. When the trap comprises two or more attracting compounds, these may be in the form of a composition or co-formulation comprising the compounds, or they may be physically separated, that is, without mixing between them in the liquid state).

In a preferred aspect, the trap of the invention comprises a volatile compound of the invention and an additional attractant compound, wherein the volatile compound of the invention and the additional attractant compound are physically separated, and more preferably the additional attractant compound is ethanol.

The present invention also relates to a method for controlling pests of Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida, which comprises attracting the insects of these species with the volatile compounds of the invention, as described.

In accordance with the method of the present invention, volatile compounds, either alone, in combination with each other, or in combination with an additional attractant compound, for example as part of an attractant composition or physically separated, are used as a lure or bait to attract fish. insects Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta, and Tropinota squalida from surrounding areas into a trap. The trap may contain a mechanical component to trap or kill the insect, and/or a chemical or biological agent to kill, reduce or prevent insect reproduction.

The present invention allows the specific control of the plagues of Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida in grapevine cultivation. Said specificity allows the selective capture of pest insects, without prejudice to beneficial insects for the plant. The present invention has the additional advantage of allowing the capture of females, preventing them from spreading the plague and eradicating it more quickly.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Composition of a compound with Ethanol in a single bag

The attracting effect of volatile compounds in CROSSTRAP MINI® (ECONEX) insect traps with a single bag was tested.

A sealed polyethylene bag (76mm x 57mm x 50pm) was placed in each trap, which was impregnated with 1ml of ethanol and 1ml of 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one or hexanol. on a dental cotton roll (35mm x 8mm).

One of the traps was impregnated with only 1 ml of ethanol on the dental cotton roll. As a negative control, a trap whose sealed polyethylene bag was empty was used. The bag contained a dental cotton roll (35mm x 8mm) in which no attractant volatile compound was impregnated.

The traps were placed in a vineyard, hung 1m above the ground at a distance of 18m from each other, and rotated every 10 days. The bags, cottons and attractant volatile compounds were changed every 10 days.

Captured insects were collected every 2-3 days and taken to the laboratory for identification. Table 1 describes the data of the captures of O. funesta, T. hirta and T. squalida obtained with the volatile compounds described above.

Table 1. Total captures of each combination (trap volatile compounds) in 6 CROSSTRAP MINI® traps with a single bag

The volatile compounds showed an attracting effect, producing a greater number of captures compared to ethanol alone or the control.

The captured insects were adult insects of both sexes. In all cases, the compounds showed a higher insect response and higher specificity than the use of ethanol alone. In addition, the volatile compounds did not attract beneficial insects to the vine.

Example 2: Ethanol a compound in different bags

The attracting effect of volatile compounds in insect traps CROSSTRAP MINI® (ECONEX) with two bags was tested.

Two sealed polyethylene bags (76mm x 57mm x 50pm) were placed in each trap. The first bag was impregnated with 1ml of ethanol on a cotton dental roll (35mm x 8mm) and the second bag with 1ml of 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one or hexanol, on a dental cotton roll (35mm x 8mm).

In one of the traps, the first bag was impregnated with 1 ml of ethanol on the dental cotton roll and the second bag remained empty as a control.

As a negative control, a trap whose two bags were empty was used. Both bags had a cotton dental roll (35mm x 8mm) in which no attractive volatile compound was impregnated.

The traps were placed in a vineyard, hung 1m above the ground at a distance of 18m from each other. The bags, cottons and attractant volatile compounds were changed every 10 days.

Captured insects were collected every 2-3 days and taken to the laboratory for identification. Table 2 describes the data of the captures of O. funesta, T. hirta and T. squalida obtained with the volatile compounds described above.

Table 2. Total captures of each combination (trap volatile compounds) in 6 CROSSTRAP MINI® traps with two bags

The volatile compounds of the invention appear to be attractive to adult insects of Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hiña and Tropinota squalida, of both sexes, with a greater response and specificity than the use of ethanol alone. However, the number of catches was enhanced by using separate bags for ethanol and compounds, compared to using a single bag containing both ethanol and compounds from Example 1.

As in Example 1, the volatile compounds did not attract beneficial insects to the vine.

Claims (7)

1. Use of a volatile compound to control pests of Oxythyrea funesta, Tropinota hirta and Tropinota squalida, characterized in that the volatile compound is selected from 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, geranyl acetone, octan-2-one, hexanol, and/or combinations thereof. 2. The use of claim 1, characterized in that said volatile compound is 1-octen-3-ol. 3. The use of claim 1, characterized in that said volatile compound is hexanol. 4. The use of any of claims 1-3, characterized in that said volatile compound is present in a purity of at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90% or at least 95% (weight/volume). 5. The use of any of claims 1-4, characterized in that said volatile compound is used in combination with an additional attractant compound in a composition. 6. The use of any of claims 1-4, characterized in that said volatile compound is used in combination with an additional attractant compound, wherein said compounds are physically separated. 7. The use of claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said additional attractant compound is ethanol.