Event Title
Evaluating the Effects of Thujone Esters on Drosophila Canton S.
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Pavithra Vivekanand
Start Date
23-4-2019 12:00 PM
End Date
23-4-2019 1:00 PM
Description
Modern day synthetic insecticides/pesticides are widely used throughout farming practices and around the common household. Most insecticides/pesticides are non-discriminatory killers, killing both harmful and harmless insects. The effects of some of these chemicals can be long lasting and are harmful to beneficial insects involved with natural agricultural events, such as pollination. Discovering more selective insecticides may attenuate this issue. We propose that evaluating mortality differences between Drosophila melanogaster and arthropods when exposed to thujone esters may identify novel insecticides that show more selective lethality. Thujone is a ketone and a monoterpene that occurs naturally in two diastereomeric forms: α-thujone and-β-thujone. Adult male and female flies were exposed to thujone and 14 ester derivatives. Several Thujol esters such as T. Nicotinate (100%), T. Iso-butyrate (100%), T. Propionate (100%), T. Butyrate (100%) and T. Acetate (70%) suggest a high toxicity when compared to a-thujone (100%), while Thujol ester T. Benzoate suggest potential sex differences between mortality in Drosophila Canton S, with male flies having the most lethal effect. To determine the LD50, adult flies will be exposed to different concentrations of selected Thujol esters may reveal sub-lethal effects and toxicity threshold for Drosophila Canton S.
Evaluating the Effects of Thujone Esters on Drosophila Canton S.
Modern day synthetic insecticides/pesticides are widely used throughout farming practices and around the common household. Most insecticides/pesticides are non-discriminatory killers, killing both harmful and harmless insects. The effects of some of these chemicals can be long lasting and are harmful to beneficial insects involved with natural agricultural events, such as pollination. Discovering more selective insecticides may attenuate this issue. We propose that evaluating mortality differences between Drosophila melanogaster and arthropods when exposed to thujone esters may identify novel insecticides that show more selective lethality. Thujone is a ketone and a monoterpene that occurs naturally in two diastereomeric forms: α-thujone and-β-thujone. Adult male and female flies were exposed to thujone and 14 ester derivatives. Several Thujol esters such as T. Nicotinate (100%), T. Iso-butyrate (100%), T. Propionate (100%), T. Butyrate (100%) and T. Acetate (70%) suggest a high toxicity when compared to a-thujone (100%), while Thujol ester T. Benzoate suggest potential sex differences between mortality in Drosophila Canton S, with male flies having the most lethal effect. To determine the LD50, adult flies will be exposed to different concentrations of selected Thujol esters may reveal sub-lethal effects and toxicity threshold for Drosophila Canton S.