Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #363821
Research Project: IPM Methods for Insect Pests of Orchard Crops

Location: Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research

Title: Effect of Aspergillus flavus on the mortality and activity of antioxidant enzymes of Spodoptera litura Fab. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae

Author
item KARTHI, SENGODAN - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU)
item VAIDEKI, K - Periyar University
item SHIVAKUMAR, MUTHUGOUNDER - Periyar University
item PONSANKAR, ATHRISTAM - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU)
item THANIGAIVEL, ANNAMALAI - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU)
item CHELLAPPANDIAN, MUTHIAH - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU)
item VASANTHA-SRINIVASAN, PRABHAKARAN - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU)
item MUTHU-PANDIAN, CHANTHINI - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU)
item Hunter, Wayne
item SENTHIL-NATHAN, SENGOTTAYAN - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU)

Submitted to: Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/9/2018
Publication Date: 5/22/2018
Citation: Karthi, S., Vaideki, K., Shivakumar, M.S., Ponsankar, A., Thanigaivel, A., Chellappandian, M., Vasantha-Srinivasan, P., Muthu-Pandian, C.K., Hunter, W.B., Senthil-Nathan, S. 2018. Effect of Aspergillus flavus on the mortality and activity of antioxidant enzymes of Spodoptera litura Fab. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. 149:54-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2018.05.009.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2018.05.009

Interpretive Summary: Insects have developed tolerance against infection by pathogenic fungi through several mechanisms. The effects of infection by pathogenic fungus, Aspergillus flavus on the immune defense system of the Lepidopteran: Spodoptera litura, were investigated. A. flavus infects S. litura by directly reducing the insects immune system, resulting in infection. This report supports the importance of A. flavus as a candidate for biological control of S. litura, and possibly other insect pests.

Technical Abstract: Insects have developed tolerance against mycoses caused by entomopathogenic fungi through several humoral and cellular mechanisms. he effects of infection by pathogenic fungus, Aspergillus flavus on the immune defense system of the Lepidopteran: Spodoptera litura, were investigated. The fungi, A. flavus exposure resulted in modification of antioxidant enzymes levels, and significant decline in phenoloxidase titers, reducing total hemocyte counts at 48 h post exposure. This report supports the importance of A. flavus as a candidate for biological control of S. litura, and potentially other lepidopteran pests.