Aphidicidal Potential of Ethyl Acetate Extract from Pleurotus ostreatus

This study was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal activity of the ethyl acetate extracts from fruit bodies, mycelia and fermentation filtrate obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus also known as the oyster mushroom. The percent mortality of Macrosiphum rosae (rose aphids) and the LC50 values were calculated and used as an indicative of insecticidal potential. The maximum mortality of aphids was achieved at 80 μg mL^-1 and the LC50 for the fruit body extract after 24 HRS was calculated as 12.83μg mL^-1, followed by the extract from the fermentation filtrate with LC50 value 25.03 μg mL^-1. The mycelial extract with LC50 (29.96 μg mL^-1) exhibited least insecticidal activity. The results obtained from this study revealed that these extracts possess metabolites with insecticidal attributes that could be used as a potential source for developing new and novel bio-pesticide(s).