Precision biofumigation using plant monoterpenes and its molecular interaction with acetylcholinesterase to alleviate insect pests of stored sorghum

Mokshith, D. G. and Kulkarni Rohit, Rajaram and Ambre Vicky, Vilas and Patole Reshma, Prabhakar and Vivek Babu, C. S. (2025) Precision biofumigation using plant monoterpenes and its molecular interaction with acetylcholinesterase to alleviate insect pests of stored sorghum. Journal of Stored Products Research, 114. pp. 1-18.

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Abstract

Improving the shelf life of sorghum during storage involves effective control of insect pests, which affect the grain quality and quantity. As an alternative to hazardous chemicals, ongoing research focuses on essential oils as a safer substitute. This study emphasizes on utilizing monoterpenes (α-Pinene, Eucalyptol, and p-Cymene) and their combinations to control three major storage insect pests: Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.). The fumigant toxicity assay displayed complete mortality at the highest dose of 10 μL (Conc-333.3 μL/L air) for all tested compounds. The combination of α-Pinene and Eucalyptol confirmed potent fumigant toxicity against S. oryzae, R. dominica, and O. surinamensis, with LC50 values of 113.9 μL/L, 158.2 μL/L, and 80.1 μL/L respectively. The bulk biofumigation study showed that the α-Pinene and Eucalyptol combination exhibited the highest mortality rates (>95 %) for all insects within a 5-day cycle in Sorghum. Persistence analysis revealed reduced residue and no significant difference in seed viability of post-treated grains. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of treated insects showed significant damage in insect elytra. However, it’s noteworthy that these monoterpenes were not considerably effective against aflatoxigenic fungi. p-Cymene displayed remarkable AChE inhibitory activity towards S. oryzae (93.78 %), R. dominica (96.72 %), and O. surinamensis (81.52 %). Furthermore, computational studies were carried out to analyse the mode of in- teractions of selected monoterpenes against modelled AChE structures of S. oryzae and R. dominica. These results indicate the potential use of monoterpene and their combinations in formulating effective biofumigants to mitigate insect pests’ infestations in stored sorghum.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	α-Pinene, Eucalyptol, p-Cymene, Fumigant toxicity, Molecular docking, sorghum
Subjects:	500 Natural Sciences and Mathematics > 10 Plants > 01 Plant Cell 600 Technology > 03 Agriculture > 05 Insect/Pest Control 600 Technology > 08 Food technology > 21 Cereals > 06 Sorghum
Divisions:	Food Protectants and Infestation Control
Depositing User:	Somashekar K S
Date Deposited:	07 Oct 2025 06:33
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2025 06:33
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/19898

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