Bioefficacy of root extracts of a medicinal plant, Withania somnifera (Dunal) against a polyphagous pest, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (15-16) ◽  
pp. 802-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Kumar Gaur ◽  
Krishna Kumar
2018 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Kumar Gaur ◽  
Krishna Kumar

Abstract Both seed and root extracts of the medicinal plant, Ashwagandha, Withania somnifera exhibit insect growth regulatory activity against the polyphagous pest, Pericallia ricini. Topical administration of W. somnifera seed and root extracts to last instar larvae of P. ricini disrupted moulting and metamorphosis, leading to a number of developmental abnormalities such as delay in larval-pupal and pupal-adult ecdysis, formation of larval-pupal, pupal-adult and larval-pupal-adult mosaics/chimeras, ecdysial failure, suppression of pupation and adult emergence and formation of abnormal pupae and adultoids. The treatment with seed extracts was more severe than that of root extracts as it completely suppressed the pupation and adult emergence. The results clearly suggest that the medicinal plant, W. somnifera acts as a potential insect growth regulatory (IGR) disrupting the moulting and metamorphosis as a consequence of interference with the endocrine system.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mathivanan Thangarasu ◽  
Krishnappa Kaliyamoorthy ◽  
Elumalai Kuppusamy

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the larvicidal and ovicidal activities of hexane, diethyl ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extract of Indian medicinal plant, Clausena excavata, at different concentrations against lepidopteran agricultural field pest, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Twenty-five early fourth instar larvae of S. litura and A. aegypti, An. stephensi and C. quinquefasciatus were exposed to various concentrations and were assayed in the laboratory by using specific protocols. The 24 h LC50 and LC90 values of the C. excavata leaf extract was determined by probit analysis. The ovicidal activity were determined against S. litura and A. aegypti, An. stephensi, and C. quinquefasciatus and was assessed 120 hrs after treatment. Results of this study show that the selected Indian medicinal plant C. excavata may be a potential source of natural larvicidal and ovicidal activities against selected pest and vector mosquitoes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurmehar Kaur Grewal ◽  
Neelam Joshi ◽  
Yadhu Suneja

Abstract Background Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious agricultural pest that infests many commercially important crops of Southeast Asian countries. Indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides has led to various health hazards as well as insecticide resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) provide an important alternative as biological control agents. Metarhizium rileyi is an EPF with a specific host range for lepidopteran pests. The present study aimed to identify virulent M. rileyi isolate against S. litura larvae and analyse their extracellular cuticle-degrading enzyme activities. Results Three M. rileyi isolates viz M. rileyi NIPHM, M. rileyi MTCC 4254 and M. rileyi MTCC 10395 formulations were evaluated at different concentrations against 2nd instar larvae of S. litura. A maximum percent mortality of 63.33% was recorded in M. rileyi NIPHM (12 g/l), followed by M. rileyi MTCC 4254 (58.33%) at the same concentration, 10 days post-treatment. Maximum means of chitinase, protease and lipase activities (0.44, 1.58 and 2.95 U/ml, respectively) were recorded in the case of M. rileyi NIPHM. Correlation analysis was positive between enzyme activity and larval mortality. Conclusions Metarhizium rileyi NIPHM recorded the highest enzymatic activity and exhibited the maximum mortality rate against 2nd instar larvae of S. litura, suggesting the possible role of these enzymes in the pathogenicity of the fungus. Further knowledge in this regard may help in the development of enzyme-based screening methods for selecting virulent fungal isolates for the eco-friendly management of crop pests.


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