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Repellent Effect of Basil (Ocimum spp) on Pea Aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) and Potential Use in Crops
* 1, 2, 3 , 2, 4 , 3 , 3 , 2
1  World Vegetable Center, West and Central Africa - Coastal & Humid Regions, 08 BP 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou, Benin
2  Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, TERRA research center, Gembloux Agro-bio Tech, University of Liège (ULiège), Passage des Déportés, 2 BE-5030 Gembloux, Belgium
3  Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin, Programme Cultures Maraîchères, 01 BP 884 Recette Principale, Cotonou, Godomey, Route IITA, Benin
4  Current address: Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
Academic Editor: Junwei (Jerry) Zhu

Abstract:

Synthetic insecticides used for aphid control continue to be a threat to humans and the environment. Therefore, in order to reduce these problems, it is important to use less harmful, environmentally friendly agricultural practices. It is with this objective in mind that the choice behaviour of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae) towards basil odors (Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae)) and the broad bean (Vicia faba (Fabaceae)) was studied using a Y-tube olfactometer. Pea aphid negatively responded to basil plants and spent less time there. The repellent activity and the possibility to use basil as an aphid-repellent plant are discussed in relation to kinds of crops and local conditions.

Keywords: Aphid; basil; volatiles; alternative control; behaviour; pesticide plant
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