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Student 10-Minute Presentation
Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology
Student
Student Competition
Eun Su Jang
Undergraduate research assistant
Gyeongsang National University
Jinju-si, Kyongsang-namdo, Republic of Korea
Hyeon Gu Kim
Gyeongsang National University
Jinjusi, Kyongsang-namdo, Republic of Korea
Ji Hye Oh
Gyeongsang National University, Kyongsang-namdo, Republic of Korea
Seo Yeon Park
Gyeongsang National University
Jinjusi, Kyongsang-namdo, Republic of Korea
Da Hyeon Yu
Gyeongsang National University
Jinju City, Kyongsang-namdo, Republic of Korea
Sang-Bin Lee
Postdoctoral research associate
University of California
Fairfield, California
Gwang hyun Roh
Gyeongsang National University
Jinjusi, Kyongsang-namdo, Republic of Korea
The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a polyphagous, world-wide distributed agriculture pest causing crop damage. This aphid reproduces parthenogenetically, leading to rapid generation turnover and increased resistance to pesticides. Current agricultural practices use pesticides to control aphids, but this poses environmental pollution problems and causes residue toxicities. For these reasons, there is a pressing need for eco-friendly and sustainable control methods. There are many studies on using fatty acids for natural pest control, but there is almost no research on cotton aphids. So we evaluated fatty acids, which are safe for humans and environmentally friendly, for controlling aphids.
We conducted behavioral tests on apterous aphids using fatty acids ranging from C6:0 to C18:2. The tests included a two-choice test, a no-choice test, a host-choice test, a semi-field test, and electroantennography (EAG). As a result of a two-choice test, we found that among 15 fatty acids tested, caproic acid showed a powerful repellent effect on the aphids at a 20 mg dose. In a no-choice test, caproic acid had a repellent effect against the aphids at a 20 mg dose for 24 hours. In addition, a host-choice test (conditions with hosts) and semi-field test, caproic acid exhibited a repellent effect. And also, caproic acid elicited a significant difference in EAG response compared to control.
In this study, we suggest that our findings could be useful spatial repellents for controlling the aphids. The new approaches using caproic acid reduce dependency on pesticides and protect the environment.