Phytochemical Profile of Extracts of Ceiba aesculifolia1 Stems and their Insecticidal Effect against Melanaphis sorghi1

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sorghi Theobald, 1904 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is the most important pest of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Poaceae), in Mexico. Control of M. sorghi depends primarily on synthetic chemical insecticides, but new alternatives have been explored, such as botanical insecticides. The objective of this research was to evaluate the aphidicide effect of the extract of n -hexane and methanol from stems of Ceiba aesculifolia (Malvaceae) against apterous adults in M. sorghi in vitro. The results revealed that n-hexane extract of C. aesculifolia killed 78% and methanol extract 48% at 10,000 ppm in 72 hours. The positive check (imidacloprid) eliminated 100% of the aphids in 24 hours and the negative check (Tween 20) 4% in 72 hours. The Gas-Mass study of n-hexane extract of C. aesculifolia identified 12 chemical compounds, nonacosane being most (25.1%). The classical phytochemical tests of the methanol extract of C. aesculifolia were positive for alkaloids, tannins, saponins, anthracenes, triterpenes, and steroids. The extracts of C. aesculifolia had significant aphidicide effects and could be considered an alternative for controlling M. sorghi.