Identification of Orfamide A as an Insecticidal Metabolite Produced by Pseudomonas protegens F6

The use of biosurfactants for agricultural crop protection has been gaining interest because they are generally biodegradable and environmentally friendly. In the present study, we identified an insecticidal biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas protegens F6 (F6) and examined its use for aphid control. The growth of F6 was accompanied by increased aphid mortality and decreased water surface tension. Bioassay-guided chromatography coupled with instrumental analyses, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF MS) identified orfamide A as a major metabolite that showed insecticidal activity against green peach aphid (Myzus persicae). Orfamide A revealed a dose-dependent mortality against aphids, producing a LC50 value at 34.5 μg/mL, and caused a considerable decrease in the surface tension value of water, giving about 35.7 mN/m at 10 μg/mL. Laboratory and greenhouse mortality bioassays suggested that orfamide A may be applicable to control aphids in organic agriculture. This is the first report of orfamide A as an insecticidal metabolite against Myzus persicae.