Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
15
Insect Growth Regulatory,
Moulting Disruption and Insecticidal
Activity of
Calceolaria talcana
and
Condalia microphylla
Cav. (Rhamnaceae)
Carlos L. Céspedes,* Evelyn Muñoz, Claudio Lamilla,
Sofía Catalina Molina and Julio Alarcón
Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile
15.1
Introduction
sites and mechanisms of action (Gonzalez-
Coloma
et al.
, 1997; Conner
et al.
, 2000;
Eisner
et al.
, 2000; Meinwald, 2001).
These characteristics may enhance their
value as commercial pesticides (Gonzalez
et al.
, 1992, 2000; Valladares
et al.
, 1997;
Gonzalez and Estevez-Braun, 1998; Isman
et al.
, 2006; Akhtar
et al.
, 2008).
In this chapter we review the results
of our research group on the bioactivity
of extracts and secondary metabolites
from
Calceolaria talcana
and
Condalia
microphylla
.
Plants produce a great variety of second-
ary metabolites that do not have apparent
function in physiological or biochemical
processes; these compounds (or allelo-
chemicals) are important in mediating
interactions between plants and their
biotic environment (Berenbaum, 1989,
1991, 1995, 2002; Kessler and Baldwin,
2002). Some of them can be used as leader
molecules for the development of pro-
tective agents against insects and fungi
(Kubo
et al.
, 1981, 1993, 2000, 2003a,b;
Crombie, 1999), and enzyme inhibitors
(Kubo, 1997; Keane and Ryan, 1999; Ortego
et al.
, 1999; Kubo
et al.
, 2000, 2003a,b;
Céspedes
et al.
, 2001a,b). The increasing
interest in the possible application of sec-
ondary metabolites for pest management
has directed the investigation towards the
search for new sources of biologically
active natural products, with new modes,
15.2
Calceolaria talcana
Plants from the genus
Calceolaria
(Scrophulariceae) are distributed in temperate
and tropical regions of New Zealand and
Central and South America. (Engler, 1964;
Di Fabio
et al
., 1995; Garbarino
et al.
, 2004).
Several species of
Calceolaria
are used as
* E-mail: céspedes.leonardo@gmail.com
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