Hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts of Couroupita guianensis leaves were studied for ovicidal activity against S. litura. All the extracts showed ovicidal activity against S. litura. Maximum activity was noticed in hexane extract and it showed the least LC50 and LC90 values; the regression equation was also higher than the other extracts. All the analyzed values showed homogeneity variance. The active hexane extract was fractionated and eight fractions were isolated. The fractions were studied at different concentrations. Among the fractions, fraction 8 showed maximum ovicidal activity with least LC50 and LC90 values. Fraction 8 differed statistically from the other fractions; the regression equation value was higher than the other fractions. All the P values obtained from regression analysis were significant. The results of the present investigation clearly suggest that the active fraction could be purified to isolate active compound(s) and could be used to develop an insecticidal formulation to control economically important agricultural pests. 1. Introduction India is an agricultural country and more than 80% of the population depend on agriculture [1]. Pathogenic organisms and insect pests cause crop loss of 120 billion US dollars worldwide and reduce the yield by 20–40% [2]. In India, approximately 18% of food grains are lost due to pathogens and insect pests. To control the pests and reduce the loss, different chemical pesticides are used. Application of chemical pesticides is polluting the environment, causing ill effects on nontarget organisms, developing resistance, and causing resurgence of pests [3]. These call for an alternative to chemical pesticides through natural means of pest control, including vigorous search for new sources of botanical insecticides [4]. Plant-based pesticides are highly suitable since they have low toxicity, are easily biodegradable, and have multimode of action [5]; they are suitable for organic agriculture [6]. Botanical extracts are used as insecticides for centuries and their active compounds reduce the opportunity for the development of insect resistance [7]. Plants have evolved a range of adaptations to increase their survival and reproduction by minimising the impact of phytophagous insects. Plants defend themselves from herbivores with the help of secondary metabolites produced by them and these secondary chemicals can act as repellents or toxins to herbivores and affect their behaviour, growth, or survival. Volatile plant signals attract natural enemies of the herbivore insect pests [8].
References
[1]
A. S. Kandagal and M.C. Khetagoudar, “Study on larvicidal activity of weed extract against Spodoptera litura,” Journal of Environmental Biology, vol. 34, pp. 253–257, 2013.
[2]
C. N. Zhou, “A progress and development foresight of pesticidal microorganisms in China,” Pesticides, vol. 40, pp. 8–10, 2001.
[3]
L. Jiang and C. S. Ma, “Progress of researches on biopesticides,” Pesticides, vol. 16, pp. 73–77, 2000.
[4]
C. Regnault-Roger, B. J. R. Philogene, and C. Vincent, Biopesticides of Plant Origin, Lavoisier, Paris, France, 2005.
[5]
S. M. Packiam, K. Baskar, and S. Ignacimuthu, “Insecticidal and histopathological effects of botanical formulations against Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),” Journal of Agricultural Technology, vol. 9, pp. 573–583, 2013.
[6]
M. F. A. El-Aziz, “Bioactivities and biochemical effects of marjoram essential oil used against potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae),” Life Science Journal, vol. 8, pp. 288–296, 2011.
[7]
R. Feng and M. B. Isman, “Selection for resistance to azadirachtin in the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae,” Experientia, vol. 51, no. 8, pp. 831–833, 1995.
[8]
S. P. Gouinguené and T. C. J. Turlings, “The effects of abiotic factors on induced volatile emissions in corn plants,” Plant Physiology, vol. 129, no. 3, pp. 1296–1307, 2002.
[9]
V. Rozman, I. Kalinovic, and Z. Korunic, “Toxicity of naturally occurring compounds of Lamiaceae and Lauraceae to three stored-product insects,” Journal of Stored Products Research, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 349–355, 2007.
[10]
K. Baskar and S. Ignacimuthu, “Antifeedant, larvicidal and growth inhibitory effects of ononitol monohydrate isolated from Cassia tora L. against Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) and Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),” Chemosphere, vol. 88, pp. 384–388, 2012.
[11]
M. C. Khetagoudar and A. S. Kandagal, “Bioefficacy of selected ecofriendly botanicals in management of tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae,” International Journal of Science Innovations and Discoveries, vol. 2, pp. 12–22, 2012.
[12]
P. Devanand and P. U. Rani, “Insect growth regulatory activity of the crude and purified fractions from Solanum melongena L., Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. and Capsicum annuum L.,” Journal of Biopesticides, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 118–130, 2011.
[13]
D. P. Ray, D. Dutta, S. Srivastava, B. Kumar, and S. Saha, “Insect growth regulatory activity of Thevetia nerifolia Juss. Against Spodoptera litura (Fab.),” Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality, vol. 85, pp. 212–215, 2012.
[14]
C. Muthu, K. Baskar, S. Ignacimuthu, and A. S. Al-Khaliel, “Ovicidal and oviposition deterrent activities of the flavonoid pectolinaringenin from Clerodendrum phlomidis against Earias vittella,” Phytoparasitica, vol. 41, pp. 365–372, 2013.
[15]
K. Baskar, R. Maheswaran, S. Kingsley, and S. Ignacimuthu, “Bioefficacy of Couroupita guianensis (Aubl) against Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae,” Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 135–141, 2010.
[16]
K. Baskar and S. Ignacimuthu, “Ovicidal activity of Couroupita guianensis (Aubl.) against Cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),” Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, vol. 46, pp. 1571–1579, 2013.
[17]
K. Baskar, S. Kingsley, S. E. Vendan, and S. Ignacimuthu, “Feeding deterrency of some plant extracts against Asian armyworm Spodoptera litura Fab. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),” in Recent Trends in Insect Pest Management, S. Ignacimuthu and S. Jayaraj, Eds., pp. 225–227, Elite Publication, New Delhi, India, 2008.
[18]
G. V. R. Rao, J. A. Wightman, and D. V. R. Rao, “World review of the natural enemies and diseases of Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),” Insect Science and Its Application, vol. 14, pp. 273–284, 1993.
[19]
K. Baskar, S. Kingsley, S. E. Vendan, M. G. Paulraj, V. Duraipandiyan, and S. Ignacimuthu, “Antifeedant, larvicidal and pupicidal activities of Atalantia monophylla (L) Correa against Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),” Chemosphere, vol. 75, no. 3, pp. 355–359, 2009.
[20]
W. S. Abbott, “A method of computing the effectiveness of an insecticide,” Journal of Economic Entomology, vol. 18, pp. 65–266, 1925.
[21]
D. J. Finney, Probit Analysis, Cambridge University Press, London, UK, 3rd edition, 1971.
[22]
B. Deepa and O. K. Remadevi, “Insecticidal activity of the phyto-extracts derived from different parts of the trees of Fabaceae family against Hyblaea puera Cramer (Lepidoptera: Hyblaeidae),” Biological Forum, vol. 3, pp. 1–8, 2011.
[23]
F. Haghighian and J. Jalali, “Antifeedant, growth inhibitory and ovicidal effect of Sambucus ebulus L. on Tribolium confusum Duv,” Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 3, pp. 159–162, 2005.
[24]
W. I. Choi, E. H. Lee, B. R. Choi, H. M. Park, and Y. J. Ahn, “Toxicity of plant essential oils to Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae),” Journal of Economic Entomology, vol. 96, no. 5, pp. 1479–1484, 2003.
[25]
M. Mondal and M. Khalequzzaman, “Ovicidal activity of essential oils against red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae),” Journal of Bio-Science, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 57–62, 2009.
[26]
A. Ebadollahi, M. H. Safaralizadeh, A. A. Pourmirza, and G. Nouri-Ganbalani, “Comparison of fumigant toxicity of Eucalyptus globulus Labill and Lavandula stoechas L. oils against different stages of Tribolium castaneum Herbst,” Indian Journal of Agriculture Research, vol. 44, pp. 26–31, 2010.
[27]
I. Tun？, B. M. Berger, F. Erler, and F. Dagli, “Ovicidal activity of essential oils from five plants against two stored-product insects,” Journal of Stored Products Research, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 161–168, 2000.
[28]
C. Lv, B. Zhong, G. Zhong et al., “Four botanical extracts are toxic to the hispine beetle, Brontis palongissima, in laboratory and semi-field trials,” Journal of Insect Science, vol. 12, article 58, 2012.
[29]
W. Setiawati, R. Murtiningsih, and A. Hasyim, “Laboratory and field evaluation of essential oils from Cymbopogon nardus as oviposition deterrent and ovicidal activities against Helicoverpa armigera Hubner on chili pepper,” Indonesian Journal of Agricultural Science, vol. 12, pp. 9–16, 2011.
[30]
A. Jeyasankar, K. Elumalai, N. Raja, and S. Ignacimuthu, “Effect of plant chemicals on oviposition deterrent and ovicidal activities against female moth, Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),” International Journal of Agricultural Science Research, vol. 2, pp. 206–213, 2013.
[31]
M. V. Maciel, S. M. Morais, C. M. L. Bevilaqua, A. L. F. Camur？a-Vasconcelos, C. T. C. Costa, and C. M. S. Castro, “Ovicidal and larvicidal activity of Melia azedarach extracts on Haemonchus contortus,” Veterinary Parasitology, vol. 140, no. 1-2, pp. 98–104, 2006.
[32]
A. Alouani, N. Rehimi, and N. Soltani, “Larvicidal activity of a neem tree extract (Azadirachtin) against mosquito larvae in the republic of Algeria,” Jordan Journal of Biological Science, vol. 2, pp. 15–23, 2009.
[33]
K. Baskar and S. Ignacimuthu, “Ovicidal activity of Atalantia monophylla (L) Correa against Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),” Journal of Agricultural Technology, vol. 8, pp. 861–868, 2012.
[34]
K. Baskar, C. Muthu, G. A. Raj, S. Kingsley, and S. Ignacimuthu, “Ovicidal activity of Atalantia monophylla (L) Correa against Spodoptera litura Fab. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),” Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, vol. 2, pp. 987–991, 2012.
