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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #186032

Title: ANTHOCYANINS FROM PETUNIA FLORAL STRUCTURES THAT INHIBIT CORN EARWORM DEVELOPMENT

Author
item Johnson, Eric
item Dowd, Patrick

Submitted to: Aflatoxin Elimination Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/2005
Publication Date: 10/24/2005
Citation: Johnson, E.T., Dowd, P.F. 2005. Anthocyanins from petunia floral structures that inhibit corn earworm development. Aflatoxin Elimination Workshop Proceedings, October 24-26, 2005, Raleigh, NC. Poster #C-1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Our previous studies identified a series of anthocyanins other than cyanidin (which is found in corn) with significant activity against corn earworms. We used three different lines of petunia that had alternating colored and blue/purple sectors (subsequently found to be due to a combination of malvidin and petunidin glucosides) to examine the effects of anthocyanins in an intact plant system. Larvae typically produced less damage on the colored versus white sectors of the petunia flowers, and larvae that fed on the colored sectors typically weighed significantly less than those feeding on the white sectors. A combination of petunidin and malvidin glucosides used in a low protein diet (to simulate the nutritional content of the flowers) at an approximate natural concentration of 1000 and 2000 ppm, respectively, also produced larvae that were signficantly smaller than those feeding on solvent control diet.