TOXICITY OF SIX ETHANOL PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST THE GREEN PEACH APHID MYZUS PERSICAE SULZER (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE)

A study was conducted to test the aphicidal activity of the ethanol leaf extract of six plant species of the most widely spread plants in Jordan. LC50 and LC90 were calculated using SPSS program. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) evaluation experiment was conducted to test the six plant species against the green peach aphid (GPA) Myzus persicae which was maintained in two cultures, in the Lab and in the green house for ten generations to get a susceptible strain before conducting the bioassay. Ethanol leaf extracts were obtained by soaking and then concentrated and dried. Dipping method was used in the bioassay. Results were significantly different in the toxicity assessment and in the CRD evaluation. The LC50 for the leaf extract of Ricinus communis L was the lowest (553 ppm) and for Robinia pseudoacacia L was the second most toxic plant extract (1150 ppm) after 24 hours, while Lantana camara L ethanol leaf extract was the least toxic (6660 ppm). CRD evaluation showed that Robinia pseudoacacia had 76.46%, followed by Ricinus communis which had 58.6% mortality rates, respectively. On the other hand Neruim oleander Mill caused the least mortality rate 25.2%, compared to the negative control and the positive control (Cypermethrin) which caused 3.24% and 90.82% mortality rates after 24 hours, respectively.