Effects of piperidine and piperideine alkaloids from the venom of red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, on Pythium ultimum Trow growth in vitro and the application of piperideine alkaloids to control cucumber damping-off in the greenhouse

Authors

Shezeng Li, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences
Xixuan Jin, USDA-ARS-MSAFollow
Jian Chen, USDA-ARS-MSAFollow

Date of this Version

2012

Citation

Pest Manag Sci 2012; 68: 1546–1552; DOI 10.1002/ps.3337

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pythium ultimum is a plant pathogen that causes significant yield losses on many economically important crops. Chemical treatment has been used for disease control. In searching for alternatives, venom piperidine and piperideine alkaloids from red imported fire ants were tested against P. ultimum in vitro, and piperideines were employed to control cucumber damping-off in the greenhouse as drench treatments.

RESULTS: Piperidineandpiperideine alkaloids of the red imported fire ant significantly inhibited mycelium growth of P.ultimum. Piperidine alkaloids were stable at both room and elevated temperatures. The inhibitory activity positively correlated with the concentrations of piperidine alkaloids in the medium, and the EC₅₀ = 17.0 μgml⁻¹. Germination of sporangia of P. ultimum was negatively correlated with the concentrations of piperidine alkaloids in the medium, and the EC₅₀ = 12.3 μgml⁻¹. The piperideine alkaloid drenching treatment significantly improved seedling emergence and seedling height of cucumber.

CONCLUSION: This is the first report describing the use of venom alkaloids from the red imported fire ant to inhibit P. ultimum in the laboratory and the application of piperideine alkaloids to control damping-off disease caused by P. ultimum in the greenhouse. These findings may lead to the development of a new group of fungicides.