Studies on efficacy of plant derived molluscicide against pestiferous land snail Achatina fulica

Abstract

Achatina fulica is a global agri-horticultural pest causing extensive damage by virtue of its generalist feeding pattern and protandrous reproduction. Chemical control measures lead to environmental damage hence the shift these days is towards usage of natural compounds as molluscicides. Clove oil, an essential oil has exhibited biological activity on a wide range of organisms. Hence the aim of the present study was to evaluate the molluscicidal potential of Clove oil on adult snails of Achatina fulica and to further elucidate the mechanism underlying its toxicity. newlineThe LD50 values for 24 hrs, 46 hrs, 72 hrs and 96 hrs were determined. The lower and higher subacute doses (LD50 /24 hrs) of Clove oil were used to assess its toxicity to the snail using 1% Tween 80 solution as the vehicle. In-vivo studies were carried out to assess the impact of Clove oil on the cyto-architecture and biochemical profile of various tissues and the reproductive efficiency of the snail. The egg laying capacity of snails is influenced by the perivitelline fluid secreted by the albumen gland. The structural and functional alterations in the albumen gland on account of Clove oil toxicity were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Further the mechanism of action of Clove oil on the release of perivitelline fluid was elucidated by in silico approach. The global protein profiling of the hepatopancreas across all the groups was also carried out by label free technique. The results of the current study revealed severe negative impact of Clove oil on cyto-architecture of the tissues studied, systemic toxicity was evident in biochemical profiles of treated tissues and severely compromised reproductive efficiency was also observed which was confluent with the results obtained in in silico studies. The proteome of hepatopancreas of the treated snails revealed that Clove oil elicited stress response in the treated tissues. Thus, Clove oil induced potent systemic toxicity in Achatina fulica and can be a potential lead in controlling its population. newline