Efectividad del aceite esencial de orégano mexicano de República Dominicana (Lippia graveolens) contra plagas del maíz (Sitophilus zeamais y Fusarium verticillioides)

The insecticidal and antifungal properties of Mexican oregano ( Lippia graveolens ) essential oil from the Dominican Republic were investigated under laboratory conditions against two main pests of stored grains:  Sitophilus zeamais  and  Fusarium verticillioides . Although oregano essential oil at 600 ?l/l air did not result in a significant mortality of  S. zeamais  after 24 hours of exposure by fumigation, this essential oil was a powerful acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor  in vitro . One of the main components of oregano essential oil, p-cymene, presented fumigant toxicity and AChE inhibition activity against the maize weevil. The  L. graveolens  essential oil antifungal activity against  F. verticillioides  was evaluated at 50, 100 and 200 ?l/l, and it was found that growth parameters were affected by the presence of oregano essential oil in the media, whereas FB1 production was not inhibited. The results demonstrate that oregano essential oil and p-cymene can be used as alternatives to synthetic pesticides against  F. verticillioides  and  S. zeamais , respectively.