Growth retarding effect of curcumin on Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) larvae

Abstract

Curcumin, a secondary metabolite widely found in plants was incorporated in the artificial diet of melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) at 5, 25, 125, 625 and 3125 ppm concentrations to study its influence on the development and physiology of this pest. Water was used as a control. The larval period and total developmental period were prolonged while percent pupation, pupal weight and percent emergence decreased in the first and second larval instar. The analysis of antioxidant enzymes at three treatment intervals (24, 48 and 72 h) revealed an increase in activity of superoxide dismutase and phenol oxidase at most treatment intervals while the enzymatic activity of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase and peroxidases decreased at almost all treatment intervals. The findings revealed growth retarding and negative effects of curcumin on the first and second instar larvae of B. cucurbitae.

Keywords:

• Bactrocera cucurbitae
• curcumin
• instars
• antioxidant enzymes
• bioassays

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge UGC BSR and UGC SAP (NO.F.4-4/2016/DRS-I (SAP-II)), New Delhi for providing financial aid to carry out this study.