TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES FOR SOME PESTICIDES ON ECONOMIC PESTS

Abstract

A s it was mentioned before, the problems or environmental pollution caused by heavy continuous use of synthetic pesticides allover the world, there is a renewed interest in the use of botanicals in crop protection. Of special interest, however, are those biologically ac tive compounds which are natural components of food plants. Since, some natural substances i.e. rubratoxin 8, aflatoxin 81 , ochratoxin A , ergotamine, Locoweed and J imson weed are teratogenic in animal models (Harbison, 1980). Thus it become a must to eva!uate both toxic and teratogenic effec ts of such natural products before being used in the environment.

I. Toxicity of some naturally occurring components to different organsi ms in the environment : The oil ex tractions of garlic, Allium smivum L., anise, Pimpinella anisum and the aqueous ex tract of chamomile. Matricaria chumomillu were evaluated against three different organisms in the env ironment, the t wo spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticue. the cotton leafworm Spodoptera Littoralis (Boisd.) and Bolti fish Tilapiu :illi .

The ohtaim•d r es ult s could ht• s ummar izt•d in the foll owing point s :

I. Garlic and anise oily ex t raction arc considered non t oxic to adult female mit e 1'. urlicae compar:tblc to dicofol t ox icit y <IS st w1dard acaricide. 2. Aqueous ex t rac t of charnomik II I<I Y L>c vonsidc rcd of pronust ng

acaricidal activity if a suitable formulation t :ut t has effective adjuvants is involved.