The efficiency of molluscicidal plant extracts for controlling of golden apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata)

Abstract

Six representative molluscicidal plants have undergone experimentation and study as potential means of controlling golden apple snail populations. The technique employed in this study involved static aquatic toxicology conducted over a 48-hour period. Throughout the process, the snails were exposed to molluscicidal plants, and their mortality rates were recorded and calculated to determine the median concentration (LC₅₀). The plant exhibiting the lowest LC₅₀ value was regarded as the most efficient in terms of molluscicidal effect. The LC₅₀ values (measured in parts per million, ppm) for the crude water extracts of molluscicidal plants are as follows: Thevetia peruviana (334.39), Calotropis gigantea (148.0), Lantana camara (391.13), Camellia oleifera (6.21), Hyptis suaveolens (888.31), and Erythrophleum succirubrum (399.69). The Department of Agriculture of Thailand (DAT) has traditionally recommended the use of niclosamide as a chemical molluscicide. However, when considering the potential benefits, a natural product like plant-based molluscicide emerges as a superior option. Using a natural plant molluscicide is not only safer and more cost-effective but also carries a lower environmental impact compared to chemical alternatives. niclosamide was employed as the positive control in our study, demonstrating an LC₅₀ value of 0.42 ppm. Consequently, the Tea oil plant (C. oleifera) exhibited the highest molluscicidal effect, as evidenced by its LC₅₀ value. In practical application scenarios, it is noteworthy that the combined molluscicidal efficiency of C. oleifera and niclosamide decreased by 50% after 4.4 days and 4.2 days, respectively. Furthermore, both compounds underwent complete decomposition within a mere 15-day period. This underscores the potential of C. oleifera as a viable and environmentally friendly alternative for golden apple snail control.