Tachinid parasitoids are in focus mostly as biocontrol agents to be released against lepidopteran pest. But surprisingly certain tachinid parasitoids attack economically beneficial insects like silkworm and demands control measures against them. The uzi fly Exoristasorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae) infests all commercially important silkworm species including Antheraeaassamensis where it causes upto 80 percent crop loss. The control of such parasitoids is a difficult task as the larval stage is endoparasitic and chemical insecticides do not reach the targeted parasitoid without exposing the silkworm host.In the present study,we evaluated adulticidal activity of different solvent extracts and essential oil of Ocimumgratissimum. We found higher efficacy of essential oil in comparison to other solvent extracts. The effective fraction of oil was found to contain thymol or its isomer carvacrol as the major compound in GC-MS studies. Finally, O. gratissimum oil-based combination (MI) and carvacrol based combination of essential oil compounds (MII) were prepared, tested and found to be effective against the fly. In silico positive interaction of essential oil compounds with acetylcholinesterase enzyme model of the fly revealed that the said enzyme is one of the target proteins for these oil compounds to interrupt its function and subsequent lethal action.

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This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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Posted 22 Jan, 2021
Posted 22 Jan, 2021
Tachinid parasitoids are in focus mostly as biocontrol agents to be released against lepidopteran pest. But surprisingly certain tachinid parasitoids attack economically beneficial insects like silkworm and demands control measures against them. The uzi fly Exoristasorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae) infests all commercially important silkworm species including Antheraeaassamensis where it causes upto 80 percent crop loss. The control of such parasitoids is a difficult task as the larval stage is endoparasitic and chemical insecticides do not reach the targeted parasitoid without exposing the silkworm host.In the present study,we evaluated adulticidal activity of different solvent extracts and essential oil of Ocimumgratissimum. We found higher efficacy of essential oil in comparison to other solvent extracts. The effective fraction of oil was found to contain thymol or its isomer carvacrol as the major compound in GC-MS studies. Finally, O. gratissimum oil-based combination (MI) and carvacrol based combination of essential oil compounds (MII) were prepared, tested and found to be effective against the fly. In silico positive interaction of essential oil compounds with acetylcholinesterase enzyme model of the fly revealed that the said enzyme is one of the target proteins for these oil compounds to interrupt its function and subsequent lethal action.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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