Toxicity of naturally occurring Bio-fly and chitosan compounds to control the Mediterranean fruit fly <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> (Wiedemann)

<div><p>The efficacy of five compounds of a biopolymer chitosan and Bio-fly (<i>Beauveria bassiana</i> fungus) as biopesticide was evaluated on <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> under laboratory conditions. The inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) as biochemical indicators were also determined <i>in vivo</i>. The results indicated that <i>B. bassiana</i> based Bio-fly exhibited significant toxicity against <i>C. capitata</i> (LC₅₀ = 3008 and 3126 mg/L after 48 h in females and males, respectively) followed by the derivatives of chitosan, <i>N-</i>(4-propylbenzyl)chitosan and <i>N-</i>(2-nitrobenzyl)chitosan. Bio-fly displayed remarkable inhibition of AChE activity (IC₅₀ = 2220 mg/L) while <i>N-</i>(<i>2-</i>chloro,<i>6-</i>flourobenzyl)chitosan, <i>N-</i>(<i>4</i>-propylbenzyl)chitosan and <i>N-</i>(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl) chitosan had no significant difference in inhibitory action. In adult males, <i>N-</i>(<i>2-</i>nitrobenzyl)chitosan exhibited the highest inhibitory action (IC₅₀ = 6569 mg/L). In addition, the toxic effects of the tested compounds on the activity of ATPase indicated that highly significant inhibition was found with <i>N-</i>(4-propylbenzyl)chitosan with an IC₅₀ of 8194 and 8035 mg/L, in females and males, respectively.</p></div