RESEARCH NOTE PHOTOTOXICITY OF CITRAL TO Trichoplusia ni (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) AND ITS AMELIORATION BY VITAMIN A

Ellen S. Green, May R. Berenbaum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Abstract Citral, a monoterpene aldehyde synthesized by several plant families, was recently shown to exhibit ultraviolet A light (320–400 nm) (UVA)‐enhanced oxygen‐dependent toxicity against bacteria and fungi (Escherichia coli and Fusarium species). In this study, we report for the first time that citral is phototoxic to insects; at concentrations of 300 ppm in artificial diet, mortality of first instar Trichoplusia ni (cabbage loopers) approached 30% after 120 h of UVA exposure, approximately double the mortality level in the absence of UVA. At 300 ppm, the antioxidant vitamin A reduces citral phototoxicity by about 50% in this species, suggesting that citral phototoxicity against insects is oxygen dependent.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)459-462
Number of pages4
JournalPhotochemistry and Photobiology
Volume60
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Biochemistry
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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