Selective activity of Carapa guianensis and Swietenia macrophylla (Meliaceae) against the corn and rice strains of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous pest with two strains (rice and corn strains). They differ in their insecticide susceptibility, providing an opportunity to discover new, bio-sustainable alternatives. Given the reported insect control potential of the Meliaceae family, the insecticide and antifeedant activity of Carapa guianensis and Swietenia macrophylla was assessed on both strains of S. frugiperda. Both plants had significant selective effects, and an extract of the twigs of S. macrophylla showed the most promising activity against the rice strain. In this regard, a moderate antifeedant effect, a high mortality rate in the insecticidal assay, and an alteration in metamorphosis, was observed. Characterization of this fraction led to the detection of phytosterols and fatty acids, and the isolation of β-sitosterol-3-O-β-glucopyranoside and stigmasterol.

Keywords:

• Antifeedant activity
• insecticide activity
• insectistatic
• phytosterols
• sesquiterpenes

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support given by the National University under the National Grant for the consolidation, creation, and innovation in research 2016-2018 (No. 35740). D. Alvarez is thankful for the financial support given by the program “Jovenes Investigadores” of the “Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Inovación, COLCIENCIAS” (No. 35036). The collection of the larvae and genetic access was provided by the Ministry of the Environment of Colombia, permit number: 4120E1-44703 (24^th April 2008). The authors thank Professor Emeritus Geoffrey A. Cordell, Natural Products Inc., Evanston IL, USA for his review of the manuscript prior to submission.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.