Pest Management Science (2020) 76, 3451-3458

Shun-Hua Gui, Clauvis N.T. Taning, Kristof De Schutter, Qun Yang, Pengyu Chen, Mohamad Hamshou, Ronald J. Nachman, Aniruddha A. Pandit, Julian A.T. Dow, Shireen Davies and Guy Smagghe (2020)
Assessment of insecticidal effects and selectivity of CAPA-PK peptide analogues against the peach-potato aphid and four beneficial insects following topical exposure
Pest Management Science 76 (10), 3451-3458
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Insect Capability neuropeptides (CAP2b/CAPA-PKs) play a critical role in modulating different physiologies and behavior in insects. In a previous proof-of-concept study, the CAP2b analogues 1895 (2Abf-Suc-FGPRLamide) and 2129 (2Abf-Suc-ATPRIamide) were reported to reduce aphid fitness when administered by injection. In the current study, the insecticidal efficacy of 1895 and 2129 on the peach potato aphid Myzus persicae was analyzed by topical application, simulating a spray application scenario in the field. Additionally, the selectivity of the tested analogues was evaluated against a selection of beneficial insects, namely three natural enemies (Adalia bipunctata, Chrysoperla carnea and Nasonia vitripennis) and a pollinator (Bombus terrestris).
RESULTS
Within 3–5 days post topical exposure of aphids to 1895, higher mortality (33%) was observed, as was the case for the treatment with 2129 (17%) and the mixture of 1895 + 2129 (47%) compared to the control (3%). 1895 and the mix 1895 + 2129 showed the strongest and comparable insecticidal effects. Additionally, surviving aphids treated with 1895 showed a reduction in total lifetime reproduction (GRR) of 30%, 19% with 2129 and 39% with the mix 1895 + 2129. Of interest from a biosafety perspective is that by using the same delivery method and dose, no significant effects on survival, weight increase and food intake was observed for the representative natural enemies and the pollinator.
CONCLUSION
This study highlights the potential of exploiting CAP2b analogues such as 1895 (core structure FGPRL) as aphicides. Additionally, the CAP2b analogues used in this study were selective as they showed no effects when applied on four representative beneficial insects.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Guy Smagghe

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
health/environmental effects of pesticides

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Myzus persicae