Clytostoma callistegioides (Bignoniaceae) wax extract with activity on aphid settling

A bioassay-guided fractionation of leaf extracts from Clytostoma callistegioides (Cham) Bureau ex Griseb (Bignoniaceae) led to isolation of a natural mixture of four fatty acids with anti-Insect activity against aphids The compounds were identified by GC-MS as palmitic stearic linoleic and linolenic acids and quantified as their methyl esters The anti-aphid activity of the natural mixture was traced to linolenic and linoleic acids as shown by the settling inhibition activity of synthetic samples Interestingly the saturated acids (palmitic and stearic) tested alone stimulated settling on one of the tested aphids (Myzus persicae) but not on the other tested species (Rhopalosiphum padi) Although ubiquitous none of these free acids have been previously reported in this Bignoniaceae species The leaf surface chemistry which is likely Involved in modulating aphid settling behavior was further investigated for the occurrence of lipophilic substances by histochemical staining Short stalked glandular trihomes previously undescribed for this species stained with osmium tetroxide and Sudan Ill suggesting that the secretion of the defensive acids is related to these surface trichomes (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved