Efficacy of Precocene I from Desmosstachya bipinnata as an ef-fective bioactive molecules against the Spodoptera litura Fab. and its impact on Eisenia fetida Savigny

Authors: SUNDAR, NARAYANON - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); KARTHI, SENGODAN - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); SIVANESH, HARIDOSS - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); STANLEY-RAJA, VEHAMONIC - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); CANTHINI, KANAGARAJ - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); RAMASUBRAMANIAN, RAMA - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); RAMKUMAR, GOVINDARAJU - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); PONSANDAR, ATHIRSTAM - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); NARAYANAN, KILAPAVOOR - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); VASANTHA-SRINIVASAN, PRABHAKARAN - Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; JAWAHER, ALKANTANI - University Of Arkansas; ALWAHIBI, MONA - King Saud University; Hunter, Wayne; SENTHIL-NATHAN, SENGOTT - Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU); PATCHARIN, KRUTMUANG - Chiang Mai University

Submitted to: Molecules
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/12/2021
Publication Date: 10/22/2021
Citation: Sundar, N.S., Karthi, S., Sivanesh, H., Stanley-Raja, V., Canthini, K.M., Ramasubramanian, R., Ramkumar, G., Ponsandar, A., Narayanan, K., Vasantha-Srinivasan, P., Jawaher, A., Alwahibi, M.B., Hunter, W.B., Senthil-Nathan, S., Patcharin, K. 2021. Efficacy of Precocene I from Desmosstachya bipinnata as an ef-fective bioactive molecules against the Spodoptera litura Fab. and its impact on Eisenia fetida Savigny. Molecules. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216384.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216384

Interpretive Summary: Caterpillar larvae of Spodoptera litura, the Oriental armyworm are a devastating pest that feeds on over 150 species of plants, including vegetables and fruit trees like citrus. The sustainability of crop production is primarily maintained with insecticides. However, after more than 80 years of intensive use many insect pests have developed resistance to the currently used insecticides. Thus, we isolated and evaluated the activity of a plant chemical compound, Precocene-I, isolated from the perennial grass, Desmosstachya bipinnata, for potential use as a new insecticide to manage caterpillar pests. The Precocene-I was applied to leaves of castor bean plants, at 60 parts-per-million and fed to caterpillars of the Oriental armyworm causing significant mortalities of 97, 87 and 81 percent respectively for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instar larvae. The availability of the grass as a cheap source of Precocene-1, and the high activity in suppressing the Oriental armyworm suggests that the compound may be a good plant insecticidal compound for use in the management of caterpillar pests on vegetables and fruit trees.

Technical Abstract: After more than 80 years of intensive use of chemical insecticides many insect pests have developed resistance to the currently used insecticides. The lepidopteran Spodoptera litura, the Oriental armyworm is a devastating pests on over 150 species of plants, including vegetables and citrus varieties. Thus, we isolated and evaluated the bioactivity of the plant chemical compound Precocene-I, which was isolated from the perennial grass, Desmosstachya bipinnata. When Precocene-I was applied to leaves of castor bean plants, at 60 parts-per-million and fed to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar caterpillars the result was significant mortalities of 97, 87 and 81 percent respectively. The availability of the grass as a cheap source of Precocene-1, and the significant insecticidal activity to larvae of S. litura suggests the need for further development of Precocene-I as a plant bioactive insecticide to manage caterpillar pests on vegetables and fruit trees.