A plant-based extract mixture for controlling Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Abstract Background Spodoptera litura larvae are polyphagous insects that have become a significant pest in recent years. The spread of this pest has led to the continuous usage of insecticides on crops. Some plant extracts have been used as a mixture to control insect pests and improve productivity. Methods A plant-based mixture was mixed at a ratio of 1:1 v/v to demonstrate the effect on contact toxicity, feeding (no-choice test), and enzyme activities on S. litura. The active compounds of P. retrofractum and A. calamus were isolated by preparative thin-layer chromatography (PTLC). Results Our results showed that binary mixtures from P. retrofractum and A. calamus exhibit the highest contact toxicity and antifeedant activity at a 1:1 ratio of LD30:LD10 dose (3.213 µg/larva P. retrofractum + 3.294 µg/larva A. calamus). The main active ingredient from each crude extract was (2E,4E,14Z)-N-isobutylicosa-2,4,14-trienamide from P. retrofractum, and beta-asarone and alpha-asarone from A. calamus. Additionally, A. calamus seems to be the synergistic compound. Some compound mixtures increased the glutathione-S-transferase activities in vivo; whereas, almost no significant differences in esterase activities were noted. Conclusion The results indicated that the ethanolic crude extracts of P. retrofractum and A. calamus mixtures could be used as the pesticidal compound and to develop a binary mixture formulation for controlling lepidopteran pests. However, the toxicity of this mixture to mammals needed to be explored before commercial development.

Keywords

• Spodoptera litura
• Plant extract mixture
• Synergist
• Detoxification enzymes
• Antifeedant