Mexican scientist creates innovative process of biological control against "cotton cankerworm"

The development was presented in 2016 Innovation Match where motivated the interest of an employer for industrial upgrading.

The so-called "cotton aphid" (Aphis gossypii Glover) is a pest that affects many crops as it feeds on plant sap, including some human consumption or ornamental of the genus Ixora (Rubiaceae), which is important for industry gardening and flower shop, and is a resource for pollinators and wild birds.

Traditionally, farmers protect their plantations with highly toxic chemicals. Against this background, the Mexican scientific Gabriela Esparza Diaz currently at Texas A & M conducted an investigation which has resulted in the production of a model based on tree seed Nim insecticide (Azadirachta indica), which has proven effective in eradication of cankerworm, without toxic effects on plants themselves.

Nim tree bark, stems and seeds take advantage for various uses, but leaves its therapeutic effects are known to be consumed as a tea. It is so in the coastal regions of Sonora, Sinaloa, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Veracruz, among others, usual intake to regulate cholesterol, uric acid and blood glucose as a natural antibiotic treatment for respiratory and digestive problems, as well as natural tranquilizer, to improve arthritic or rheumatic, or applied to heal wounds or skin ulcers pictures.

To tell the researcher born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, neem oil and soap are also produced, among other products, both in Mexico and abroad. "However, the seed has insecticidal and substances that can be obtained is noteworthy azadirachtin, world studied properties, and others like salanin and nimbin with antifeedant or repellent qualities, which together have a greater effect for insect control."

Dr. Diaz Esparza scholarship from CONACYT worked in an innovative process of extracting compounds Nim seed, which consists of using methanol as a solvent to obtain a concentration of azadirachtin A (AZA) by extrusion. Unlike known processes that include the use as solvents hexane, water and d-limonene, new development has significantly better results in terms of presence of the insecticidal compounds.

The seed extract, called Azadirex, has been found in the study by a researcher at the Graduate College which has greater insecticidal effect than others known at the same dose, with 100 percent mortality of A. gossypii at 48 and 72 hours.

To say Diaz Esparza, who is a postdoctoral fellow in the area AgrLife Research and Services of Texas A & M University, the biological insecticide is industrially feasible to produce in Mexico because it already exists as planting in various states; however, according to the altitude and ecological zone where you are, the seed will have more or less active ingredients for insecticide.

In particular, the Nim planted in the Sotavento region in Veracruz has proven its effectiveness for this purpose. An area of 59 thousand 311 hectares with potential in 10 municipalities and a population in conditions of economic livelihood of more of 48  976 persons, representing 18 million 114 thousand 367 annual wages available.

It is noteworthy that the cankerworm does not affect animals or humans, only plants on which it feeds; also transmits virus excreta generates as sugar or honey that clog the pores of the leaves or makes them grow a fungus that infects.

The next step will be patented process by passing the formulated extract, i.e. achieve a microemulsion of this concentrate.

On the feasibility of producing the insecticide industrially, Dr. Diaz Esparza reports that she has reached out to entrepreneurs of Baja California, Sinaloa and Sonora but not yet something concrete.

However, the greatest commercial interest was raised by direct contact with an industrial after the presentation of the project in Innovation Match (IMMX) 2016 event held in Guadalajara in April. The forum, which managed to link more than 600 research projects in 34 countries with Mexican companies and institutions to promote business, is organized by the Kappa Knowledge Center S.C.