Caffine serve as an insectiside and a pesticides in a coffee plant and crops

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INTRODUCTION

Coffee plant (Coffee arabica), is a common houseplant, produces its own insecticide, Caffeine to protect itself from predatory insects. In 1984, neurologist James A Nathanso published article for science magazine starting that caffeine is produced with in plants and serves as a natural insecticides for dangerous insects and pests. (Budzinski, 2020). There are over 1000 chemical compounds in coffee. A variety of chemical occur naturally in the raw coffee bean and about 950 more new compounds are formed after roasting. Coffee may also contain chemical insecticides used during the planting process coffee can be useful in mosquito control Some Coffea plant are naturally resistant to insects attack and also contains antiviral properties. Caffeine inhibits the activities of spider that harms the coffee plants and certain insects also decrease the reproductive capacity on danger mosquitoes (Satho, et al., 2015). Coffea species are susceptible to various fungal infections, which can kill them in large areas. The most fungal disease of coffee species is caused by Hemileia vastatrix Breek and Broome, a basidiomycota which causes a discoloration on the lower surface of the leaves. Coffeeberry borer (Hypothenemus hamperi) was accidentally introduced to Brazil. The reproduction of this insect is higher in highly humid environments. Investigations showed that Coffea kapakata (C. kapakata) and coffee eugenioides (C. eugenioides) were resistant to the pest.


1.    ALKALOIDS

Caffeine, the most important alkaloids of coffee species, is synthesized in the young leaves of C. arabica seedlings and immature fruits, and it’s accumulated the mature leaves. In the synthesis of purine alkaloids, they are involved in several enzymes such as caffeine synthase, Xanthosine 7-N-methyl transferase, caffeine methylxanthinemethyltransferase 1 (CAMXMT1) and caffeine methylxanthinemethyltransferase 2 (CAMXMT2). The active caffeine biosynthesis is carried out in the upper leaves and the upper part of the stem, the highest concentration was measured in the green beans of C. arabica, C. kapakata and C. salvtrix while C. canephor contained more chlorogenic acid and caffeine.


2.    COFFEE SEEDS

Coffee seeds are rich in biologically active substances and polyphenols such as kaempherol, ferulic, quercetin, sinapic, nicotine, tannic and pyrogallic acids which possess antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antiviral effects. These substances act as a defense mechanism of whole plant the whole or grounded silver skin is used as a fertilizer after compost production as a versatile barrier in reduction of pesticides which leach through the soil.


3.    COFFEE LEAF

Phenolic acid such as caffeine chlorogenic, ferulic and sinapic acids as well as rutin and quercetin were identified in the leaf of Arabica and Bengal coffee. Mangiferin was individually isolated from the leaves bark and it is well known for its numerous pharmacological properties such as antioxidant and antimicrobial effects in biotic stress (Patay, et al., 2016).


4.    EFFECTS OF COFFEE PLANT ON SPIDERS MITES AND BUGS

  • Research on the coffee plant as insecticides showed that the two seeds of Coffea arabica treated with plants as with a mixture of soil, sand and substrate and a result showed plant were grown in arthropods free under neutral temperature and light condition (Penaflor, et al., 2019).
  • Coffeeberry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferari) Coleoptera: (Curculionidae: scolytinase), is currently the main pest of the coffee crop worldwide, including Colombia. Controlling this insect is difficult not only because it spends almost its entire life cycle within the coffee berries but also because it spends almost its entire life cycle with in the coffee berries but also because its population density is strongly influenced by weather conditions on coffee plantations.
  • Nicotiana tobacum extract has historically been used as an insecticidal treatment in many crops and recently there are some reports of its use in coffee plantations.
  • The plant has red and yellow flowers that play an important role in bee keeping, being able to strengthen the system with the attraction of enemies for CBB.
  • Ethanol and other alcohols, produced by ripe coffee berries appear to play a role in host localization by CBB. (Castro, et al., 2017).


5.    EFFECTIVE AGAINST MOSQUITOES 

Mosquito Ades albopictus originate from Asian forest but has spread around the world to become a threat to public health in many countries. This mosquito is a proven vector of many viruses but is best known as a dengue vector. The first and main line of control against the dengue vector is the use of insecticides (Satho, et al., 2015). Mosquito infestation treated with caffeine will become inhibited in their development during the early stages without producing toxic chemicals into the local environment (Budzinski, 2020).

 

6.    CONCLUSIONS

Most chemical insecticides are highly toxic to humans, animals and other non-targeted species. They can cause serious illness including some forms of cancer. Caffeine as a potential insecticide will reduce the threat posed from the use of manufactured chemicals on the human population. As coffee showed the potential effect for bugs, mites and even dengue mosquito. All these insects spoil the leaves seeds and coffee in the coffee plant. Caffeine interaction with these insects showed the best result for future researchers to more focused on caffeine as a natural insecticide as an insect killer. It will also make it economically feasible.


By: Fatimah Khursheed

REFERENCES

  1. Budzinski,        J.            (2020,  September         3).          Caffeine             As an insecticide. https://www.gardegnuides.com/131671-caffeine-insecticide.html.
  2. Castro, A.M., Tapiaso, J., Ortiz, A., Benavides, P., & Gongora, C.E. (2017). Identification of attractant and repellent plants to coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei. Entomologica Experimentalis ET Applicata, 164(2), 120-130. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12604
  3. Patay, E. B., Bencisk, T., & Papp, N. (2016). Phytochemical overview and medicinal importance of Coffea species from the pest until now. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 9(12), 1127-1135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.11.008.
  4. Penaflor, M.F. G. V., Andrade, F. M., Sales, L., Silveria, E. C., & Santa. Cecilia, L. V.C. (2019). Interactions between white mealybugs and red spider mites sequentially colonizing coffee plants. Journal of Applied Entomology, 143(9), 957-963. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12683
  5. Satho, T., Deing, H., Ahmad, M.H.I., Ellias, S.B., Hassan, A.A., Abang, F.,….. Nolasco-Hipoloito, C. (2015). Coffee and Its Waste Repel Gravid Aedes Albopictus Females and Inhibit The Development Of Their Embryos. Parasites and Vectors, 8(1). https://doi.org/101186/s13071-015-0874-6

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