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Effect of host plants nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals on growth, development, and fecundity of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

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Abstract

The composition of nutrients among food plants determines the extent of larval development in insects. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of plant nutrients on growth and development of Spodoptera litura larvae subjected to five different food plants namely, Brassica oleracae, Nicotiana tabacum, Ricinus communis, Gossypium hirsutum, and Arachis hypogaea. The plant nutrient content, total moisture, ash, fibre, lipid, protein, and carbohydrate were evaluated. Results show moisture and crude protein contents were high in B. oleracea, (24.66 ± 1.15%, 16.33 ± 0.57), N. tabacum (21.66 ± 1.52%, 16.33 ± 1.53), and R. communis (16.33 ± 0.57%, 15.66 ± 1.57). High ash content was present in G. hirsutum (16.66 ± 1.45%), A. hypogaea (17.33 ± 1.90%), and lipid content was significantly higher in A. hypogaea (0.4 ± 0.02%). Whereas G. hirsutum has a have high level of fibre content and low level of crude protein content (21.33 ± 0.01, 11.00 ± 1.00%). Carbohydrate levels show no significant difference in all types of plant extract. Phytochemical analysis of five host plants showed high phenol content was observed in R. communis, G. hirsutum, and A. hypogaea, and high flavonoid level in G. hirsutum. A higher antioxidant level was observed in R. communis (36.66 ± 1.52). These plant nutrients and phytochemicals significantly affected the development growth of S. litura. R. communis fed S. litura larvae shows a survival rate, 94.33% was significantly higher. Egg to adult development duration was low 21.8 ± 0.1 days, for larvae reared on R. communis as compared to other plants. Higher oviposition was observed for larvae fed on B. oleracea, N. tabacum, and R. communis leaves. The larval length, pupal length, pupal weight, female fecundity, adult longevity and utilization of food were significantly higher in R. communis fed larvae. The presence of host plant R. communis in the field needs to be considered to avoid plant pest infesting.

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Acknowledgements

The Authors acknowledge the infrastructural support provided to the Department of Biotechnology, Periyar University by DST—FIST (SR/FIST/LSI-673/2016)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Entomology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Periyar University, Salem-11, Tamil Nadu, India

    Govindaraj Vengateswari, Murugan Arunthirumeni & Muthugounder Subramanian Shivakumar

  2. Department of Food Technology, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Tamil Nadu, India

    Muthugounder Subramaniam Shivaswamy

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  1. Govindaraj Vengateswari
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  2. Murugan Arunthirumeni
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  3. Muthugounder Subramaniam Shivaswamy
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Correspondence to Muthugounder Subramanian Shivakumar.

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Vengateswari, G., Arunthirumeni, M., Shivaswamy, M.S. et al. Effect of host plants nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals on growth, development, and fecundity of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Int J Trop Insect Sci 42, 3161–3173 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-022-00868-6

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