1Biotechnology, Environment and Health's Laboratory. University Saad Dahleb Blida (USDB), 01 Soumaa's Road, P.O. Box 270, 9000 Blida, Algeria
2National institute of forest's researches. Laboratory of Forest entomology-INRF. Box 37, 16000 Cheraga, Algeria
3Laboratory of Biopesticides, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, P.O. Box 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia
*Corresponding author's E-mail: kamy8989@yahoo.fr
Online published on 9 January, 2018.
Bioassays with Melia azedarach against Thaumetopoea pityocampa larvae showed positive correlation between mortality (between 50 and 100%) and the used doses (5, 10 and 15 mg/cm2) after 24 h of application. This efficacy was similar to that of the Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki HD1 δ-endotoxins (20 μg/ml, 40 μg/ml, 80 μg/ml, 150 μg/ml and 300 μg/ml) which resulted in a caterpillars's mortality rate of 100% but three days after application, at the dose of 300 μg/ml. The use of the mixture M. azedarach and the δ-endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki HD1 gave 100% mortality, 24 hours after treatment only. Histologically, this effect resulted in vacuolation of the intestinal cells of the treated larvae with a significant reduction of pine needle consumption compared to untreated caterpillars.
Melia azedarach, Bacillus thuringiensis, synergic effect, biocid, Thaumetopoea pityocampa.