Plant volatiles based on r-curcumene

Abstract

The invention provides a method for controlling whiteflies which comprises the steps of: providing a composition comprising or consisting of R-curcumene and optionally further beta-myrcene, para-cymene, gamma-terpinene, alpha-terpinene, alpha-phellandrene zingiberene and/or 7-epi-zingiberene; and adding said composition one or more times to a plurality of crop plants. The method can be combined with the use of attractant compositions comprising beta-phellandrene, limonene and/or 2-carene, and optionally adding said composition one or more times to one or more trap plants and/or trap materials.

1 . A composition for repelling whiteflies, comprising as active ingredient R-curcumene. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein active ingredient of the composition consists essentially of R-curcumene. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of other terpene or terpenoid compound. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising as active ingredient at least one compound selected from the group consisting of S-curcumene, para-cymene, gamma-terpinene, alpha-terpinene, alpha-phellandrene, zingiberene and/or 7-epi-zingiberene. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises not more than two compounds selected from the group consisting of S-curcumene, para-cymene, gamma-terpinene, alpha-terpinene, alpha-phellandrene, zingiberene and/or 7-epi-zingiberene. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein active ingredient of the composition consists essentially of R-curcumene and not more than two compounds selected from the group consisting of S-curcumene, para-cymene, gamma-terpinene, alpha-terpinene, alpha-phellandrene, zingiberene and/or 7-epi-zingiberene. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a volatile liquid. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is not a naturally occurring head-space composition of plants. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is not a naturally occurring head-space composition of tomato plants. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the R-curcumene is chemically synthesized. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the R-curcumene is not chemically synthesized. 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a slow- and/or controlled-release formulation. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is comprised in a solid support material. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein active ingredient accounts for at least 1% weight per volumn of the composition. 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein active ingredient accounts for at least 5% weight per volumn of the composition. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein active ingredient accounts for at least 10% weight per volumn of the composition.