AUTHOR=Gómez-Sosa Lilibeth , Pérez-Pacheco Rafael , Zárate-Nicolás Baldomero Hortencio , Ortiz-Hernández Yolanda Donají , Vásquez-López Alfonso , Aquino-Bolaños Teodulfo , Quiroz-González Beatriz , Martinez-Tomas Sabino H. , Arroyo-Balán Fabián , Fonseca-Muñoz Alicia , Granados-Echegoyen Carlos 

TITLE=Tridax coronopifolia var. alboradiata (Asteraceae) essential oil: chemical characterization and repellent potential against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Agronomy

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/agronomy/articles/10.3389/fagro.2025.1648839

DOI=10.3389/fagro.2025.1648839

ISSN=2673-3218

ABSTRACT=Currently, on a global level, there are major difficulties in pest control during the storage of grains and cereals. The most widely used method is the use of synthetic insecticides, a practice that pollutes the environment and causes health problems for consumers. As a result of this problem, this study evaluated the repellent effect of essential oil from Tridax coronopifolia var. alboradiata against Sitophilus zeamais. The oil was extracted via microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and characterized using gas chromatography. Repellency bioassays were conducted at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, and 800 ppm, with both positive and negative controls. The essential oil exhibited significant repellent activity against S. zeamais. At 800 ppm, the selection index was 0.27, indicating high repellency and a clear preference of insects for untreated maize grains. Chemical analysis revealed sixteen terpenes, accounting for 98.43% of the total volatile content. The predominant compounds were 2-carene (24.1%), camphene (12.6%), α-pinene (10.23%), and hexadecanal (9.11%). These results confirm the efficacy of T. coronopifolia var. alboradiata essential oil as a repellent against S. zeamais and underscore its potential as a botanical insecticide. The chemical profile provides valuable information to support its development as a sustainable alternative for managing stored grain pests.