Comparative Insecticidal Efficacy Of Selected Essential Oils Against The Rose Aphid (Macrosiphum Rosae)

Abstract

The rose aphid (Macrosiphum rosae) is a damaging pest in ornamental plants, known for causing direct harm through phloem feeding and indirectly by transmitting viral pathogens. This experiment evaluated insecticidal potential of essential oils extracted from five medicinal plant species including Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Citrus sinensis, Moringa oleifera and Datura stramonium. Essential oils were extracted via hydro-distillation and detailed profile was assessed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Bioassays based on direct contact toxicity indicated that A. indica and E. camaldulensis produced highest mortality rates in M. rosae, reaching 83.7% and 78.2%, respectively, at 15 µL/mL. Although D. stramonium showed lowest LC₅₀ value (12 µL/mL), its maximum effectiveness was lower than that of A. indica. GC–MS profiling identified main insecticidal constituents, including azadirachtin, 1,8-cineole, thymol, and piperitenone. These results strengthen the potential of A. indica and E. camaldulensis essential oils as promising botanical alternatives to synthetic aphicides in sustainable rose aphid management under controlled conditions. The future prospective of current findings reinforces the further experimentations in semi-controlled and open field conditions.