engleski

Pyrethrin content and composition of Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium /Trevir./ Sch. Bip.) populations from Croatia

Pyrethrin is a potent natural insecticide derived from Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium /Trevir./ Sch. Bip.), a plant species endemic to the east coast of the Adriatic Sea. Pyrethrin has highly unusual insecticidal activity, with the ability to control or repel numerous insect species, with little or no adverse environmental impact. Its use represents a safe and efficient method of insect control. A total of 25 wild Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium /Trevir./ Sch. Bip.) populations of different geographical origin of Croatia were studied with the focus on determining the pyrethrin content and composition. Active components were extracted with acetone by means of ultrasound-assisted extraction and six components were identified and quantitatively determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector. The total pyrethrin content ranged between 0.36 and 1.30 % of the dry flower weight, with an average of 0.86 %. Pyrethrin I / pyrethrin II ratio ranged between 0.64 and 3.33 with an average of 1.91. Statistical analyses revealed that the correlations between the % of pyrethrin I and the % of all the other components were significant and negative. Total pyrethrin content was positively correlated with the % of pyrethrin I and negatively correlated with the % of cinerin II. Multivariate analysis of chemical variability enabled the identification of five chemotypes among analyzed populations. The most abundant chemotype including eight populations was characterized by the lower % of pyrethrin I and higher % of cinerin I, cinerin II and jasmolin II. With growing interest in organic farming as well as an increased resistance of pests to synthetic pesticides and more strict environmental legislation, interest in pyrethrin has been expanding continuously in recent years. Our results show that wild Dalmatian pyrethrum populations are valuable source of genetic variability to be exploited in plant breeding programs with great commercial value for agricultural utilization.

Dalmatian pyrethrum; Tanacetum cinerariifolium /Trevir./ Sch. Bip.; pyrethrin; natural insecticide; Croatia

nije evidentirano