Evaluation of indigenous the nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in combination with chlorantraniliprole against Spodoptera species

Abstract

Background The armyworms, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), and S. litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are polyphagous pests of many cash crops. Heavy crop losses have been reported for the fruit and vegetable crops each year owing to the diverse impact on global economies. The present study was aimed to sort out a novel method of pest control using the insect’s own nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV) alone and in combination with a new chemistry insecticide chlorantraniliprole. Results In the study, the effect of indigenous isolated nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) and the chemical insecticide (chlorantraniliprole) formulations against the 2nd and 4th larval instars of S. litura and S. exigua, collected from the different geographical region of Punjab (Pakistan) province, was evaluated. Three concentrations of the NPV isolate, sub-lethal (1 × 104, 6 × 104 POB ml−1), lethal (3 × 105 POB ml−1), and chlorantraniliprole 0.01 μl l−1, were applied alone and in combination against the 2nd and 4th larval instars of both pest species. The lethal concentration of NPV + chlorantraniliprole exhibited synergistic interaction and caused high larval mortality against both instars, while in all other combinations, additive effect was observed. Moreover, NPV + chlorantraniliprole at lethal concentration exhibited decreased pupation, adult emergence, and egg eclosion. Conclusion The implications of using NPV alone and in combination with an insecticide are discussed briefly in this study.

Pathogenicity of Nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) against <i>Spodoptera litura</i> (Fabricius)

“…Our results were also in corroboration with the results obtained by other Ali et al (2018) who observed that the mortality of the S. litura larvae increased with dose. The findings of the present study were in line with the findings of Sarwar et al (2021) who carried out an evaluation of NPV against different larval instars. The second instar larvae of Spodoptera species were found to be more susceptible to nucleopolyhedrosis virus in comparison to fourth instar larvae.…”

Control Potential of Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) Isolated from Fall Armyworm in Nigeria (West Africa)

“…The insecticidal properties of SfMNPV can also vary between the maize strain and rice strain of the fall armyworm [29]. All the above-mentioned limiting factors on the success of baculoviral bioinsecticide led to investigations of enhanced effectiveness through its combination with biorationals or synthetic low-toxicity insecticides on a range of noctuid pests [30][31][32][33]. A dual-action bioinsecticide was also explored using mixed entomopathogens [34][35][36][37], but this was not always conclusive [38,39].…”

Biological Control of Pests in Major Tropical Vegetable Crops: A Review

“…Vairimorpha necatrix, formerly known as Nosema necatrix and Thelohania diazoma, is a microsporidium that has been isolated from at least 14 species of field-collected lepidopteran larvae. V. necatrix has been found to infect various species of Lepidoptera, including economically significant agricultural pests such as Pseudaletia unipuncta, Heliothis zea and Heliothis virescens (Sarwar, 2017a). Additionally, it has been observed to infect Autographa californica, Trichoplusia ni, Spodoptera frugiperda, Spodoptera exigua, Spodoptera ornithogalli (Sarwar, 2017b), as well as Plathypena scabra, Pseudoplusia includens and Hyphantria cunea, which have shown potential in controlling the black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Sarwar, 2019).…”