The Effects of Essential oils Extracted from Five Medicinal Plants on the Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)) under Laboratory Conditions

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Najmeh Kianpour ¹

Hassanali Vahedi ¹

Mohammad Reza Bagheri ²

Mohammad Amin Samih ³

Zarir Saeidi ⁴

Zohreh Emami Bistgani ²

¹ Department of Plant Protection, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

² Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Isfahan, Iran

³ Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Vali-e-Asr University, Rafsanjan, Iran

⁴ Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari, AREEO, Iran Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Isfahan, Iran

10.22067/jpp.2026.95864.1256

Abstract

Introduction
The greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)) is causing significant damage to both field and greenhouse plants worldwide. This pest cause both direct and indirect damage by feeding on plant sap, transmitting plant viruses and secreting honeydew on the leaf surface. The honeydew stimulates the growth of sooty mold fungi that can cover the leaf surface, reducing photosynthesis and contaminating crop products. This polyphagous insect feed on more than 850 plant species, those reflects its significant adaptability to various conditions and represents a serious threat to sustainable agricultural products. Due to the adverse consequences and destructive impacts resulting from using chemical insecticides, the identification and introduction of safer alternatives, especially within the framework of integrated pest management (IPM) programs, is very important. The most suitable strategy for controlling this pest is the integrated use of both biological and essential plant oils methods. The present study was carried out with the aim of reducing reliance on chemical insecticides, preventing pest resistance, and minimizing environmental hazards. In this study, the repellency or antifeedant effects of plant essential oils and their influence on the populations of the T.vaporariorum were evaluated under laboratory conditions (27 ± 5 °C, 60 ± 10% RH and natural light).
 
Materials and Methods
Plants Studied: Thymus daenensis (Celak), Matricaria chamomilla L., Achillea millefolium L., Menta piperita L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L., were obtained from the medicinal plant farms of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Isfahan Province in June 2023. T. daenensis identified by herbarium code 18122, M. chamomilla by 18123, A. millefolium by 18124, M. piperita by 18121, and R. officinalis by 18125.
Host plant: In this study, the eggplant plant, Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae) (Commercial cultivar Lango) was used as the host plant for the greenhouse whitefly. The host plants, S. melongena, were planted and maintained under identical conditions with a temperature of 27±5 ℃, relative humidity of 60±10%, and exposure to natural light.
The infested leaves containing nymphs and pupal stages were collected from commercial greenhouses and kept in growth chambers at a temperature of 25 ± 2 °C, relative humidity of 65 ± 5%, and a photoperiod of 8:16 (light:dark) until reaching the adult stage. Following the emergence of adults, both male and female insects were introduced onto host plants to initiate colonies. Extraction of essential oils from the studied plants: First, the plants were dried in shaded areas equipped with ventilation. Then, the dried plants were ground and the essential oils were extracted using a Clevenger machine. Essential oils extracted from five medicinal plants, including T. daenensis, at concentrations of 16, 31, 62.5, 125, and 250 ppm; M. chamomilla and M. piperita at concentrations of 81.25, 162.5, 325, 750, and 1500 ppm; A. millefolium at concentrations of 125, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 ppm; and R. officinalis at concentrations of 162.5, 325, 750, 1500, and 3000 ppm, were evaluated. When eggplants plants reached the 3–4 leaf stage, essential oils at five concentrations, already determined by preliminary tests, were applied via foliar spraying on the leaves of eggplants, including untreated control only sprayed by distilled water + 2% Tween 80. The treated pots were then transferred into an infested greenhouse where host plants contained at least 100 adult whiteflies. The pots were arranged in five treatments with four plants per treatment, replicated four times, in a completely randomized design, ensuring approximately equal distance from the sources of infestation. The number of insects attracted to each pot was counted after 24 and 48 hours. After 48 hours, the pots were transferred to a separate chamber isolated from any further whitefly infestation. Over a period of 30–40 days, the pots were examined weekly to monitor and record the development of different life stages of the whitefly. Data analysis of the impact of essential oils of five medicinal plants on feeding and population changes of greenhouse whiteflies. Initially, the collected data were transformed with √x+1, then variance analysis was performed using SPSS19.0.0 program, and comparisons and grouping of means were compared using Duncan's multiple range test at a probability level of five percent.
 
Results and Discussion
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) at concentration of 125 ppm exhibited the lowest repellency with the highest attraction of the Whitefly population at 24 hours (126.25 ± 23.33) and 48 hours (133 ± 23.42) after essential oil treatment, while Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) showed the highest repellency with the lowest insect attraction at 24 hours (4.75 ± 2.05) and 48 hours (7.75 ± 2.09) at concentration of 1500 ppm. The repellency of essential oils were positively correlated with concentration, such that increasing concentrations in the most cases reduced the insect population and enhanced repellency. The whitefly population varied significantly during the first week (F = 2.983, df = 25, p = 0.0001) and the second week (F = 3.107, df = 25, p = 0.0001), whereas no significant differences were observed in the third (F = 0.986, df = 25, p = 0.493) and fourth weeks (F = 1.246, df = 25, p = 0.228). Based on the findings, Chamomile essential oil at concentrations of 750 ppm and higher, Thyme at 125 ppm and higher, Yarrow at 250 ppm and higher, Peppermint at concentration of 750 ppm and higher, and Rosemary at concentration of 1500 ppm and higher could effectively act as repellents to protect greenhouse eggplants against T. vaporariorum. Several studies have also evaluated the insecticidal activity of other plant essential oils against various pests, with the differences in results mainly attributable to pest species, type of extract, and experimental timing. Collectively, the previous studies indicated that the essential oils used in the present study could serve as potential alternatives for the development of natural insecticides.
 
Conclusion
Findings are promising in development of safe botanicals; however, it would require confirmation of their positive field result.
 



 
 



 
 

Keywords

Botanical insecticides

Ecofriendly pesticides

Insect control

IPM

Sustainable agriculture

Subjects

• pests

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Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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