INSECTICIDAL FACTOR FROM FIELD PEAS

摘要

A method and composition is provided to control insect pests using pea extracts. Pea extracts, protein-rich, fibre-rich and starch-rich fractions were tested for toxicity against various grain storage pests. The pea proteinrich extract was found to be toxic against the lesser grain borer, red flour beetle, rice weevil, maize weevil, granary weevil and the rusty grain beetle. The pea protein-rich extract also reduced the number of offspring of all insects tested. The protein-rich fraction was also found to be effective against the bertha army worm, diamondback, grasshopper, Indian meal moth and flea beetle. A partially purified active extract from the protein-rich fraction has been identified, using ion-exchange chromatography, reversedphased chromatography, adsorption chromatography and gel filtration. However, the active ingredient within this fraction is not a protein greater than about 4000 daltons, nor is it a protease inhibitor, lectin or soyasaponin I.