Deciphering the potential of plant metabolites as insecticides against melon fly (<i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i>): Exposing control alternatives to assure food security.

ABSTRACT: In the absence of effective biological or chemical controls, the melon fly poses a significant threat to food security, particularly impacting cucurbit crops in tropical and subtropical regions. Melon fly infestations have resulted in yield losses of 30 %-100 %, depending on the specific cucurbit species and season. Current control methods using synthetic chemicals are challenging due to their environmental and biological impacts. This study identified 59 phytocompounds with potential insecticidal properties against the melon fly, exhibiting minimal environmental impact. Key protein targets-hedgehog protein, spastin protein, and ABC-type heme transporter ABCB6 protein-were selected for binding affinity analysis. Camptothecin demonstrated the highest binding affinities for hedgehog protein

SUBMITTER: Chowdhury ZJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11791130 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature