Control of Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) with Allyl Isothiocyanate under Field and Greenhouse Conditions

The botanical compound allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is toxic to many microorganisms and insects. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of AITC on the Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang (Diptera: Sciaridae) and the seeds and seedlings of the Chinese chive. Allyl isothiocyanate was toxic to all four developmental stages of B. odoriphaga. The adult was significantly more sensitive to AITC than the other three stages, which exhibited no significant differences to one another in sensitivity to the chemical. The control efficacy of AITC against B. odoriphaga was far superior in the greenhouse than the field. In addition, seedling survival was higher in the greenhouse compared with that in the field. In the absence of B. odoriphaga, seed germination and seedling growth of Chinese chives were inhibited by 16 μl/liter of AITC, and significant inhibition occurred under higher doses of AITC. These results indicate that AITC could be used to control B. odoriphaga during cultivation of Chinese chives.