1Division of Agri. Chemicals, I.A.R.I., New Delhi - 110 012, India
2Division of Nematology, I.A.R.I., New Delhi - 110 012, India
3Division of Entomology, I.A.R.I., New Delhi - 110 012, India
Parthenin (1), a sesquiterpene lactone, obtained from Parthenium hysterophorus, was converted into different derivatives by chemical and photochemical transformations and tested against 1st instar larvae of Trogoderma granarium, 3rd instar of Spodoptera litura and J2 of Meloidogyne incognita. The derivatives synthesized were photoparthenin (2), pyroparthenin (3) and anhydroparthenin (4) besides parthenin. Pyroparthenin was found to be most effective as insecticide as % weight loss in wheat grains was found to be 0.64 and number of progeny adults was lowest (4.0) compared to 39.5 and 78.6, respectively with parthenin at 300 ppm concentration. The nematicidal effect was not pronounced in all the compounds tested in vitro and in vivo.
Parthenium hysterophorus, Insecticidal activity, Nematicidal effect, Meloidogyne incognita, Trogoderma granarium
