Pest Management Science Pest Manag Sci 57:95±101 (2001)

Pesticidal properties of parthenin (fromParthenium hysterophorus) and relatedcompoundsSubhendu Datta† and Dinesh B Saxena*Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110 012, India

(Rec

* Co(Com† CurCont

# 2

Abstract: Eleven sesquiterpene lactone derivatives of parthenin (1), obtained from wild feverfew,

Parthenium hysterophorus, were prepared by chemical and photochemical transformations. The

compounds tested were a pyrazoline adduct (2) of parthenin, its cyclopropyl (3) and propenyl (4)

derivatives, anhydroparthenin (5), a dihydro-deoxygenated product (6), a formate (7) and its

corresponding alcohol (8) and acetate (9), a rearranged product (10), lactone (11) and hemiacetal

(12). All these derivatives, along with parthenin, were tried for their antifeedant action against sixth-

instar larvae of Spodoptera litura, for insecticidal activity against the adults of store grain pest

Callosobruchus maculatus, for phytotoxic activity against Cassia tora, and for nematicidal activity

against the juvenile stage-II (J2) of the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Antifeedent

bioassay revealed that parthenin is moderately antifeedant. Among the derivatives, the saturated

lactone (11) was found to be about 2.25 times more active than parthenin. The pyrazoline adduct (2)

was found to be the most effective as an insecticide, with LC50 values after 24, 48 and 72h of 96, 43 and

32mg litreÿ1, respectively, which are comparable with neem extract. Compound 4 was found to be the

most effective inhibitor of germination and seedling growth of C tora, with ID50 values for germination,

plumule length and radicle length of 136, 326 and 172 compared with 364, 738 and 427mg litreÿ1,

respectively, for parthenin. Compound 10 was found to be the most effective in terms of nematicidal

activity. The LC50 values for this compound were 273 and 104mg litreÿ1, respectively, after 48 and 72h

compared with 862 and 512mg litreÿ1 observed for parthenin after 48 and 72h.

# 2001 Society of Chemical Industry

Keywords: Parthenium hysterophorus; parthenin; parthenin derivatives; antifeedant activity; insecticidal activity;nematicidal activity; herbicidal activity, Spodoptera litura; Callosobruchus maculatus; Cassia tora; Meloidogyneincognita

1 INTRODUCTIONSesquiterpene lactones exhibit a wide spectrum of

biological activities, which include cytotoxic, anti-

tumour, allergic, antimicrobial, antifeedant, phyto-

toxic and insecticidal properties.1 The sesquiterpene

lactone parthenin (Fig 1; 1) is the main secondary

metabolite of Parthenium hysterophorus L (Composi-

tae), and possesses all the properties mentioned above.

Parthenin has been shown to act as a feeding deterrent

to the adults of Dysdercus koenigii F, Triboliumcastaneum Hbst, Phthorimaea operculella (Zell), Callo-sobruchus chinensis L2 and sixth-instar larvae of

Spodoptera litura (F).3 Parthenin has also shown

activity against termites and cockroaches4 as well as

migratory grasshopper.5 Whole plant extracts of Physterophorus showed insect-growth regulatory activity

against the cotton stainer (Dysdercus angulatus F),6

®fth-instar larvae of S litura 7,8 and toxic effects on

cabbage leaf webber (Crocidolomia binotalis Zell),

migratory grass hopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes [F])9

eived 10 February 2000; revised version received 30 June 2000; acc

rrespondence to: Dinesh B Saxena, Division of Agricultural Chemicamunication No 685)rent address: Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Calcutta Centreract/grant sponsor: Indian Council of Agricultural Research

001 Society of Chemical Industry. Pest Manag Sci 1526±498X/2

and pulse beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus F) infesting

cowpea seeds.10 Pure parthenin, as well as extracts

from different parts of P hysterophorus have shown

phytotoxic effects on many aquatic11±13 as well as

terrestrial weeds.14±19 Extracts of P hysterophorus were

also toxic to root knot nematodes Meloidogyne in-cognita; (Kofoid and White), Chitwood, and Helico-tylenchus dihystera (Cobb) Sher.20 Crushed leaves

admixed into the soil reduced root galling in papaya

caused by M incognita.21 These early reports suggest

that parthenin has properties useful in pest control,

either by itself or as a lead compound for the

development of active and more selective analogues.

Since P hysterophorus, commonly called congress grass,

is a noxious weed and has been declared a health

hazard due to its allergenic properties, parthenin was

transformed chemically and photochemically into

eleven derivatives 2±12 (Fig 1). All these derivatives,

along with parthenin (1), were tried for their anti-

feedant activity against S litura, for insecticidal activity

epted 31 July 2000)

ls, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India

, 30 GN Block, Sector-V, Calcutta-91, West Bengal, India

001/$30.00 95

Figure 1. Chemical structure ofparthenin (1) and its derivatives.

S Datta, DB Saxena

against C maculatus, for herbicidal effect against Cassiatora and for nematicidal activity against M incognita.

The present communication deals with the bioef®cacy

of these compounds.

2 EXPERIMENTAL METHODS2.1 Isolation of parthenin and its derivatisationParthenin (1) was isolated, puri®ed and characterised

from dried and ®nely powdered aerial parts of Par-thenium hysterophorus following the method described

previously.3

The following derivatives were prepared according

to published methods: (2) a pyrazoline adduct of

parthenin,22,23 (3) a cyclopropyl derivative of parthe-

nin,23 (4) a propenyl derivative of parthenin,23 (5)

anhydroparthenin,22±24 (6) a product formed by

reaction of parthenin with zinc and acetic acid,22 (7)

a formate formed by the reaction of parthenin with

96

formic acid,25 (8) the alcohol formed by the hydrolysis

of formate,25 (9) acetate formed by reaction of

parthenin with acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid at

room temperature,26 (10) the product formed by

rearrangement of parthenin with acetic anhydride

and sulfuric acid at 0°C,27 (11) a saturated lactone

photodegradation product of parthenin,23 and (12) a

hemiacetal photodegradation product of parthenin.23

Parthenin and its derivatives are practically insolu-

ble in water but are soluble in alcohol, chloroform,

ether, acetone and ethyl acetate. Therefore, stock and

test solutions were prepared in acetone for antifeedant

and insecticidal tests and emulsions/suspensions were

prepared for herbicidal and nematicidal tests.

2.2 Isolation of azadirachtin AAn azadirachtin sample containing 40% of azadirach-

tin A was isolated from neem (Azadirachta indica A

Juss) seed kernels as described by Schroeder and

Pest Manag Sci 57:95±101 (2001)

Pesticidal properties of parthenin and derivatives

Nakanishi.28 Identi®cation was by comparison with a

pure sample of azadirachtin A purchased from SPIC

Science Foundation, Chennai, India on a Waters

HPLC system ®tted with a 600 series pump, a Waters

996 photodiode array detector and a Nova Pak phenyl

3.9�150mm column using methanol�water (65�35

by volume) as eluent. Detection was carried out at

lmax=217nm.

2.3 Antifeedant bioassayThe test insect S litura was reared in the laboratory on

Ricinus communis L leaves. Rectangular leaf discs

(40cm2) were cut for bioassays. In dual choice

bioassay, the test compound in acetone (0.15ml) was

spread with the help of a ®ne pipette on one half of the

leaf (20cm2 treated). The untreated or acetone-

treated other half (20cm2) served as control. In the

no-choice test, the test compound solution (0.30ml)

was spread over the entire leaf disc (40cm2). For each

concentration of test compounds, ®ve replicates were

used. After allowing the solvent to evaporate, the leaf

discs were placed inside Petri dishes (10cm ID), three

sixth-instar larvae pre-starved for 3h were released and

allowed to feed for a period of 6h. The insects were

then removed, the unfed leaf area was measured using

Systronic leaf area meter, and the percentage anti-

feedance was calculated.29

The in¯uence of bioassay methods on the anti-

feedant activity of parthenin, its derivatives and

azadirachtin A against S litura was tested using short

(6h) term dual-choice and no-choice tests. Untreated

controls were maintained alongside solvent controls in

the dual-choice test for each concentration and chemi-

cal. Out of ®ve replications, the three homogeneous

were used to calculate percentage antifeedancy. From

the latter ED50 and ED90 (effective doses causing 50%

and 90% antifeedancy respectively) values of the

effective derivatives were calculated by log-probit

plot.30

2.4 Insecticidal bioassayThe insecticidal activity of the compounds was tested

at 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000mg litreÿ1 concen-

tration in acetone using a dry-®lm technique against

adults of C maculatus (Bruchidae), a stored grain pest

of legume seeds by using a published method31 with

some modi®cation. In the present study, Petri dishes

of 9cm diameter were used, and the ®lm prepared by

using 1.5ml of each concentration.

Both in treatment and control, 25 three-day-old

insects were released in each Petri dish and mortality

data were obtained from the average of three replica-

tions in each case and corrected using Abbott's

formula.32 From corrected percentage mortality and

the logarithm of the concentration, LC50 values were

estimated by a log-probit plot.30

2.5 Herbicidal bioassaySeeds of C tora were scari®ed with dry sand before

soaking them for germination, otherwise they did not

Pest Manag Sci 57:95±101 (2001)

germinate readily. Fifty seeds were taken for each

single treatment. Parthenin and its derivatives were

dissolved in a few drops of ethanol and made up to the

®nal volume with water to give solutions of 100±

3000mg litreÿ1 (in increments of 100mg litreÿ1 up to

1000mg litreÿ1, increments of 200mg litreÿ1 from

1000 to 2000mg litreÿ1 and increments of 500mg

litreÿ1 from 2000 to 3000mg litreÿ1). Seeds were

immersed in treatment solutions for 24h, then placed

on the upper surface of the germination clothing paper

placed over a thin pad of cotton soaked in the

treatment solution in 10-cm Petri dishes. The Petri

dishes were incubated at 25(�2)°C and 75% RH in a

germination chamber. Each concentration was tested

in triplicate. Similarly three lots of seeds were soaked

in tap water for 24h and kept for germination as

control. Germination percentage and linear growth of

radicle/root were recorded after 72h. After 7 days

plumule/ hypocotyl length was measured. The per-

centage inhibition was calculated by the following

formula:

% Inhibition � C ÿ T

C� 100

Where C =average germination or average length of

radicle or plumule in control.

T =average germination or average length of radicle

or plumule in treatment. Results are expressed in

terms of ID50 values, the dose at which 50% inhibition

occurred, and were calculated from the percentage

inhibition values at different concentrations of the

compounds by log-probit plot.30

2.6 Nematicidal bioassayEgg masses of root knot nematode M incognita were

obtained from cultures maintained on egg plant

(Solanum melongena L cv Pusa Purple Round) after

two months of infection. These were kept on a layer of

tissue paper supported on wire gauze for screening

according to a published method.33 Freshly hatched

J2 stage nematodes were collected from the suspen-

sion in water and used for both in vitro and in vivotests. Observations on the mortality of J2 were taken

after 24, 48 and 72h. Mortality was con®rmed by

transferring J2 to water for revival test; if they remained

immobile after 1h they were considered dead.

2.6.1 In vitro testFor in vitro water screening, a 25-ml stock solution of

2000mg litreÿ1 (compound 50mg, acetone 2ml,

Tween 80 0.2ml in distilled water to 25ml) was

prepared; 10, 5, 2.5 and 1-ml aliquots of this stock

solution were added to 10, 15, 17.5 and 19ml of

distilled water to give 20-ml test solutions with doses

of 1000, 500, 250 and 100mg litreÿ1 compound. In a

similar way, a 25-ml stock control solution was

prepared from acetone (2ml), Tween 80 (0.2ml) in

distilled water, from which the respective control for

different concentrations were prepared according to

the procedure mentioned above.

97

S Datta, DB Saxena

One millilitre of nematode suspension (50±60

juveniles) was taken in 12-ml capacity glass vials and

1ml of emulsion of twice the required concentration of

test compound was added to the vials. The vials were

covered with aluminium foil and were kept at

30(�1)°C for 24, 48 and 72h. Triazophos 400g

litreÿ1 EC (Hostathion 40EC; M/S Hoechst India

Ltd) was used as standard. It was applied at 40, 20, 10,

5 and 2.5mg AI litreÿ1 under similar experimental

conditions. After the desired exposure, the number of

living and dead nematodes were counted under a

stereoscopic binocular microscope. The percentage

mortality was calculated from the average of three

replications in each concentration and corrected using

Abbott's formula.32 The LC50 values were obtained

from corrected percentage mortality data and the

logarithm of the concentration by log-probit plot.30

Compounds showing less than 50% mortality at

1000mg litreÿ1 were not considered for further tests.

2.6.2 In vivo testThe active compounds were tested under glasshouse

conditions in triplicate, employing earthen pots ®lled

with 500g nematode-free soil and sand mixture (3�1

by weight). Two moistened seeds of soybean (Glycinemax (L) Merr cv P-16) were sown in each pot.

Solutions of 250 and 500mg litreÿ1 of compounds

active in the in vitro test and controls were prepared

following a uniform method of preparation. One week

after sowing, one healthy plant per pot was ®nally

retained. Three replicates of each of the treatment

were inoculated separately with 1000 freshly hatched

juveniles of M incognita through holes near the root

zone of seedlings at 25(�5)°C; after 12h, 100ml

emulsion of each treatment was added. The experi-

ment was terminated at 45 day after inoculation and

the plants were uprooted, washed thoroughly under

Table 1. Antifeedant activity of parthenin and itsderivatives against Spodoptera litura

Compounds

Ant

No-c

1 7

2 5

3 6

4 7

5 6

6 8

7 4

8 5

9 9

10 6

11 9

12 9

Azadirachtin 7

a Percentage antifeedan

and 250mg litreÿ1 for az

tested.b Calculated from% antifc These compounds wer

98

¯owing tap water and dry weight of shoot, root and

number of nodules were recorded. Nodulation was not

induced by Rhizobium and only healthy nodules were

recorded.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION3.1 Antifeedant bioassayBoth no-choice and dual-choice methods were used in

antifeedant tests against S litura. Since concentration-

dependent antifeedant activity was not observed in no-

choice tests the results are reported for the dual-choice

method only.

In dual-choice tests compounds 2±5, 7, 8 and 10

were less active than parthenin, as in no-choice tests.

None of these compounds showed a concentration-

correlated effect, which may be due to their low

antifeedant activity against the insect.24 The concen-

tration which caused 50% antifeedancy could there-

fore not be obtained.

Percentage antifeedancy data for compounds 1, 6, 9,

11, 12 and azadirachtin (Table 1) were subjected to

analysis of variance after arc sin transformation. From

Table 1 it is obvious that compound 9 is as active as

parthenin (1) while compound 6 is less active than

parthenin. Compound 12 appeared more active than

parthenin at lower concentrations (up to 500mg

litreÿ1) but less active at higher concentrations. Com-

pound 11 appeared more active than parthenin up to

5000mg litreÿ1. ED50 and ED90 values of these six

compounds were obtained from percentage anti-

feedancy relative to solvent control in the dual-choice

test. The ED50 and ED90 values of parthenin were 287

and 1978mg litreÿ1, respectively. The ED90 value for

azadirachtin was 74mg litreÿ1. Compound 6, which

showed higher antifeedancy in the no-choice test

appeared slightly less active than parthenin in the

ifeedancy relative to control (%) a

ED50b

(mg litreÿ1)

ED90b

(mg litreÿ1)hoice test Dual-choice method

5 (81) 99 (99) 287 1978

3 (64) 65 (67) c c

1 (67) 68 (75) c c

5 (71) 68 (71) c c

3 (65) 56 (60) c c

2 (84) 85 (85) 687 >1000

7 (55) 45 (47) c c

7 (62) 58 (60) c c

3 (94) 97 (97) 227 2545

8 (74) 64 (66) c c

6 (96) 100 (100) 88 907

6 (96) 92 (93) 174 7210

7 (82) 100 (100) c 74

cy values for highest does tested ie 10000mg litreÿ1 for compounds 1 to 12adirachtin Figures in parentheses represent % antifeedancy at highest dose

eedancy in dual-choice test.

e less active than parthenin in both no-choice and dual-choice tests.

Pest Manag Sci 57:95±101 (2001)

Table 2. Insecticidal activity of parthenin and itsderivatives against Callosobruchus maculatus

Compounds

LC50 (mg litreÿ1) on

exposure for

24h 48h 72h

1 >1000 >1000 568

2 96 43 32

3 a a a

4 a a a

5 >1000 708 512

6 a >1000 >1000

7 a a >1000

8 a a a

9 a >1000 >1000

10 a a a

11 >1000 >1000 517

12 >1000 603 74

Azadirachtin 102 46 28

a No mortality was observed at 1000mg litreÿ1.

Table 3. Herbicidal activity of parthenin and its derivatives againstCassia tora

Compound

ID50 (mg litreÿ1)

Germination Plumule length Radicle length

1 364 738 427

2 >1000 >1000 >1000

3 284 608 346

4 136 326 172

5 >1000 >1000 >1000

6 >1000 >1000 >1000

7 >1000 >1000 >1000

8 >1000 >1000 >1000

9 >1000 >1000 >1000

10 966 >1000 >1000

11 726 >1000 883

12 337 764 414

Pesticidal properties of parthenin and derivatives

dual-choice tests. Its ED50 value was 687mg litreÿ1

but 90% antifeedancy could not be observed up to

10000mg litreÿ1.

Compounds 9, 11 and 12 showed concentration-

dependent antifeedancy lower ED50 values than

parthenin. When the ED90 values of these compounds

were compared with that of parthenin, compounds 9

and 12 appeared less active than parthenin. For com-

pound 11, the ED90 value was less than half of that of

parthenin. This compound showed total antifeedancy

at 5000mg litre, in contrast to parthenin which did not

cause 100% antifeedancy even at 10000mg litreÿ1.

3.2 Insecticidal activityThe values in Table 2 indicate that the parent

compound parthenin (1) had very little insecticidal

activity against C. maculatus, and most of the trans-

formed products possessed only mild activity, if any.

The LC50 values for all twelve compounds, apart from

compound 2 after 24h, were higher than 1000mg

litreÿ1 where no mortality was observed at all. Com-

pound 2, ie the pyrazoline derivative of parthenin, was

found to be the most active and as effective as neem

extract. Compound 12, formed by photochemical

reaction of parthenin, was found to be the second

most active compound. Anhydroparthenin (5) and the

lactone photoproduct (11) were also more effective

than parthenin. Compounds 3, 4, 6±10 were found to

be the least effective as after 24h exposure no mortality

was observed and after 48 and 72h exposure either no

mortality or mortality below 20% was observed at all

concentrations tested. Thus compounds 2, 5, 11 and

12 were found to be more effective than parthenin and

in terms of ef®cacy these can be arranged in the order:

2>12>5>11>1.

3.3 Herbicidal activityIt is clear from Table 3 that compounds 2, 5±9 did not

affect the germination, radicle and plumule length of C

Pest Manag Sci 57:95±101 (2001)

tora below 1000mg litreÿ1. Compounds 10 and 11

were also less effective than parthenin.

Parthenin was found to be an effective germination

and seedling growth inhibitor for C tora. It was

phytotoxic at 1200±2000mg litreÿ1.

Compound 12 appeared as effective as parthenin in

inhibiting germination, plumule and radicle length.

Compounds 3 and 4 were found to be more effective

than parthenin. Compound 3 was the second most

effective compound and compound 4 was found to be

most effective among all the derivatives of parthenin.

With the latter compound, complete inhibition of

radicle growth was found at 500mg litreÿ1 and

plumule length and germination at 1000 and

1600mg litreÿ1 respectively. Fifty per cent inhibition

of germination, plumule and radicle length were

observed at 136, 326 and 172mg litreÿ1 concentra-

tions, respectively, which were less than half the

concentrations required with parthenin.

With those compounds (1, 3, 4 and 12) which

caused complete inhibition below 3000mg litreÿ1,

decrease in linear growth of radicle/root and plu-

mule/hypocotyl was found to be proportional to

increase in concentration. Complete inhibition of

growth was observed at at the stated concentrations

within 48h of treatment. At this stage, tips of radicle/

root turned brown with the passage of time, the

browning advanced towards the base of radicle and

sometimes the hypocotyl/plumule also became chloro-

tic and necrotic at places along the length.

Parthenin and derivatives 3, 4 and 12 were found

effective in germination and seedling growth inhibition

of C tora. At concentrations of 500mg litreÿ1 and

above they proved phytotoxic. However, at a given

concentration, severe inhibition in linear growth of

radicle/root was observed compared with plumule

growth. With these four compounds, radicle/root

growth was restricted ®rst, then plumule growth and

ultimately germination. In terms of effectiveness, these

four compounds can be arranged in the order:

4>3>12=1.

99

Table 5. Effect of derivatives of parthenin on soybean infected withMeloidogyne incognita

Compound

Concentration

(mg litreÿ1)

Shoot

weight (g)

Root

weight (g)

Number of

nodules

1 250 2.34 0.65 2.00

500 2.50 0.72 2.33

6 250 3.36 1.05 3.00

500 2.40 0.78 3.00

10 250 2.68 0.83 3.00

500 4.27 0.95 4.33

Control Ð 2.40 0.73 2.00

CD at 5% Ð 0.108 0.099 0.54

S Datta, DB Saxena

The precise mechanism of the inhibitory effects of

parthenin is not yet clear, but reports suggest the

action of sesquiterpene lactones is similar to that of

auxin and gibberellin and due to their speci®c

reactivity towards the sulfydryl group.34 The observed

reduction in radicle elongation and seedling length in

the present study could also be due to the effect on

gibberellin and auxin-induced functions. The inhibi-

tory effect was highest when the a-methylene moiety of

parthenin was changed to a propenyl moiety (com-

pound 4) or to a cyclopropyl moiety (compound 3),

whereas change in the cyclopentenone moiety by

photochemical reaction retained the activity (com-

pound 12); all other modi®cations reduced the activity

in the present study.

3.4 Nematicidal activityFew of the compounds tested possessed nematicidal

activity against M incognita when compared with the

standard triazophos (Table 4). The LC50 values for all

twelve compounds after 24h were higher than

1000mg litreÿ1. Parthenin, the parent compound also

possessed moderate nematicidal activity. After 48h

and 72h of exposure its LC50 values were 862 and

512mg litreÿ1. Compound 10 was found to be most

effective among the derivatives. Its LC50 value after

48h was 273mg litreÿ1 and after 72h 104mg litreÿ1.

Compound 6 was also more effective than parthenin

(LC50, 457mg litreÿ1 at 48h and 396mg litreÿ1 at

72h). Therefore, the ef®cacy of derivatised products in

causing mortality of root knot nematode was in the

order: 10>6>1.

The two active compounds 6 and 10, along with

parthenin, were evaluated in pots. The results (Table

5) revealed that, for parthenin, shoot weight, root

weight and the number of nodules were more or less

similar to those of control, showing that parthenin was

unable to resist the penetration of J2 in roots of

soybean. Compound 6 at 250mg litreÿ1 and com-

pound 10 at both 250 and 500mg litreÿ1 increased the

shoot weight, root weight and number of nodules as

Table 4. Nematoxicity of parthenin and its transformedproducts against Meloidogyne incognita

Compound

LC50 (mg litreÿ1) on exposure for

24h 48h 72h

1 >1000 862 512

2 >1000 >1000 >1000

3 >1000 >1000 >1000

4 >1000 >1000 >1000

5 >1000 568 >1000

6 >1000 457 396

7 >1000 627 984

8 >1000 >1000 >1000

9 >1000 >1000 266

10 >1000 273 104

11 >1000 >1000 865

12 >1000 >1000 710

Triazophos 12.2 6.8 Ð

100

compared with the untreated control. Maximum shoot

weight and nodulation (4.27 and 4.43g respectively)

were observed in case of compound 10 at 500mg

litreÿ1, whereas maximum root weight (1.05g) was

observed in case of compound 6 at 250mg litreÿ1,

indicating that these two compounds might have been

effective in paralysing J2.

4 CONCLUSIONSIt is evident from the above bioassay tests that the

biological activity of parthenin could be enhanced by

making structural modi®cations. Compounds 11, 2, 4

and 10 were more active than parthenin in terms of

antifeedant, insecticidal, herbicidal and nematicidal

activity, respectively. Detailed systematic study is still

required on the chemical transformations, to ascertain

the physical, chemical and biological properties of

parthenin and its transformation products and their

ef®cacy in multilocation ®elds. This may lead to

commercial exploitation of parthenin and its trans-

formed products in pest control.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe authors wish to acknowledge ICAR for providing

Senior Research Fellowship (through IARI) to the ®rst

author for his PhD study. The help and assistance

received from Dr Ranjana Saxena, Department of

Zoology, Bareilly College, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, in

conducting the insecticidal and nematicidal bioassay is

also duly acknowledged.

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