APHICIDAL ACTIVITY OF ORANGE OIL TO THE GREEN PEACH APHID MYZUS PERSICAE SULZER (HOMOPTERA : APHIDIDAE)

Efficacy of orange essential oil, with four different solvents namely: acetone, ethanol, n-hexane and chloroform screened against the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, for their aphicidal effects under lab conditions. The aphid was reared in special insectary until reaching sensitive strain after ten generations, bioassay was then applied, to find lethal concentration, after three various times; 24, 48 and 72 hours, using four types of solvents. Results showed that orange oil with acetone was the most effective against first and second nymphal instars (early nymphal instars) of M. persicae. Orange oil showed effectiveness with LC50 of 0.003, and 0.004 (v/v) with acetone and n- hexane solvents, respectively, and LC90 of 0.187, and 0.196 (v/v) with acetone and ethanol. Results indicated significant differences in mean percentage mortalities after 24, 48, and 72 hours of the exposure at 10% concentration. Orange oil showed mortality, which ranged between 69.30 to 47.82%. None of the orange extracts was as effective as Calypso insecticide in controlling the insect pest. The study showed that orange essential oil is promising insecticide that provides effective management of M. persicae to provide safe environment and crops with high quality.