Effectiveness of botanical pesticide combined with Beauveria bassiana on mortality, nutritional index and fecundity of Spodoptera litura L.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of botanical pesticides mixed with entomopathogenic Beauveria bassiana on the growth and development of Spodoptera litura. This study adopted an experimental approach using a completely randomized design consisting of three treatments (botanical pesticides, B. bassiana, and a mixture of botanical pesticides and B. bassiana) and two control. The treatment and control had five concentration levels and were repeated four times. The test used the dip feed method. The relation between treatments and S. litura mortality was analyzed using probit analysis. Differences in means between treatment and control were analyzed using ANOVA. The results showed that both single and mixed treatments decreased relative consumption, inhibited relative growth rate and reduced fecundity of S. litura. The activity of the mixture of pesticides at the LC₅₀ level has shown a synergistic effect. Thus, the mixture of botanical pesticides and B. bassiana could be developed as an alternative pesticide for sustainable biological control of S. litura.

Keywords:

• Botanical pesticide
• B. bassiana
• developmental disruption
• synergistic effects
• Spodoptera litura

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Manuel Tejada
• Universidad de sevilla
• Spain

SUBJECTS:

• Entomology
• zoology
• agriculture & environmental sciences

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Rector and Head of Research and Community Empowerment Institute, Brawijaya University.

Author contributions

The conception and design (Amin Setyo Leksono), analysis and interpretation of the data (Tasafima Tesari); the drafting of the paper (Tasafima Tesari), revising it critically for intellectual content (Irfan Mustafa); and the final approval of the version to be published (Amin Setyo Leksono). All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

Additional information

Funding

This study was partially funded by Brawijaya University through the Research grand scheme number 612.93/UB10.C20/2023. This study was supported by the Research and Community Service Institute Universitas Brawijaya, through Excellent Grant Scheme, with contract No. 612.93/UN10.C20/2023.

Notes on contributors

Tasafima Tesari

Tasafima Tesari is a student at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia. She obtained her master degree in Entomology from Brawijaya University. Email: [email protected]

Amin Setyo Leksono

Amin Setyo Leksono is a professor at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia. His specialty is Entomology and Insect Ecology. He obtained his Ph.D. in ecology from Hiroshima University, Japan. He is serving as an editorial member and reviewer of several international journals. He has also authored many research articles/books on Animal Ecology and related fields. Email: [email protected]

Irfan Mustafa

Irfan Mustafa is an assistant professor at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia. His specialty is microbiology. He graduated from Kumamoto University in Japan. He is serving as an editorial member and reviewer of several national journals. He has also authored many research articles related to microbiology. Email: [email protected]