Effect of the aqueous extracts of the seeds of Talisia esculenta and Sapindus saponaria on fall armyworm

Abstract

The effect of aqueous extracts of Talisia esculenta (T.E.) and Sapindus saponaria (S.S.), were evaluated on the development and mortality of 8-14th day-life Spodoptera frugiperda, an important pest of maize. Corn leaves were dipped in the aqueous extracts (1% w/v) and offered as food to the caterpillars. The treated corn leaves with the extracts caused larval mortality (26.71%/T.E.; 63.3%/S.S.) and also showed effect on the larval weight (237.50 mg/T.E.; 86.65 mg/S.S.) when compared with the control (11.3% and 293.45 mg), mortality and larval weight, respectively. The electrophoresis with gelatin (0.1%) showed two very clear white areas (trypsin activity) in the caterpillars midgut of all the treatments. Only the caterpillar treated with S. saponaria presented significant differences, showing trypsin activity (10.59%). Sapindus saponaria appeared better than Talisia esculenta and showed good potential to be used as control agent for S. frugiperda.