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Title: ARS RESEARCH ON NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR PEST MANAGEMENT

Author
item Duke, Stephen
item Baerson, Scott
item Dayan, Franck
item Rimando, Agnes
item Scheffler, Brian
item Tellez, Mario
item Wedge, David
item Akey, David
item Arthur, Franklin
item De Lucca Ii, Anthony

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/10/2002
Publication Date: 5/17/2003
Citation: DUKE, S.O., BAERSON, S.R., DAYAN, F.E., RIMANDO, A.M., SCHEFFLER, B.E., TELLEZ, M.R., WEDGE, D.E., AKEY, D.H., ARTHUR, F.H., DE LUCCA II, A.J. ARS RESEARCH ON NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR PEST MANAGEMENT. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE. 2003. V.59:708-717.

Interpretive Summary: This is a journal review which will be included in a special ARS issue of the "Pest Management Science" journal.

Technical Abstract: Recent research of the Agricultural Research Service of USDA on the use of natural products to manage pests is summarized. Studies of the use of both phtyochemicals and diatomaceous earth to manage insect pests are discussed. Chemically characterized compounds, such as a saponin from pepper (Capsicum fruitescens), benzaldehyde, chitosan, 2,deoxy-D-glucose are being studied as natural fungicides. Resin glycosides for pathogen resistance in sweet potato and residues of semi-tropical leguminous plants for nematode control are also under investigation. Bioassay-guided isolation of compounds with potential use as herbicides or herbicide leads is underway at several locations. New natural phytotoxin molecular target sites (asparagine synthetase and fructose-1,6-biphosphate aldolase) have been discovered. Weed control in sweet potato and rice by allelopathy is under investigation. Molecular approaches to enhance allelopathy in sorghum are also being undertaken. The genes for polyketide synthases involved in production of pesticidal polyketide compounds in fungi are found to provide clues for pesticide discovery. Gene expression profiles in response to fungicides and herbicides are being generated as a tool to both more fully understand mode of action and to rapidly determine the molecular target site of new, natural fungicides and herbicides.