Lethal and sublethal effects of Mentha piperita L. and its nanoformulation form on the biological and population growth parameters of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) under laboratory conditions

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood, is one of the most destructive greenhouse pest in the world. In this study, the lethal and sublethal effects of Mentha piperita L. essential oil and its nanoformulation were investigated on the T. vaporariorum by considering the biological and population growth parameters. Extraction of essential oil was done by steam distillation using clevenger, and the chemical components of M. piperita were evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that monoterpenoids including carvone (%57.13) and limonene (%26.90) were the main characterized components of pipermint essential oil. The characterization of nanoformulation was done using dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the nanoemolsion was spherical in shape with the average sizes of 179.74 nm. The leaf dipping was used for the bioassays. The bioassay results showed that, the nanoformulation of eesential oil (LC50: 3375.411 ppm) was more toxic than the pipermint (LC50: 4536.118 ppm) on the T. vaporariorum adults. The life table data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Also, the sublethal concentration (LC25) of pipermint nanoformulation affected life table parameters of T. vaporariorum by prolonging the developmental time of T. vaporariorum, decreasing the female longevity and fecundity compared with essential oil. Also, the population growth parameters such as intrinsic rate of increase and finite rate of increase treated by nanoemolsion of essential oil (0.076±0.006 day -1) and (1.079±0.007 day -1) were lower than the essential oil (0.084±0.006 day -1) and (1.087±0.006 day -1), significantly. The total results showed that pipermint,s nanoformulation has the most lethal and sublethal effects on greenhouse whitefly compared with the pured form of essential oil which can be consider in integrated pest management program (IPM) of this pest.