Inhibitory effects of Serjania erecta on the development of Chrysodeixis includens

Abstract

The soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens, is a primary soybean pest that reduces crop productivity. This work examined control of C. includens populations with methanolic extract of Serjania erecta, a native Cerrado plant, while minimizing risks to pollinators, natural enemies and the environment. Serjania erecta specimens were collected, identified, and subjected to methanol extraction. Bioassays were performed using newly hatched and second-instar caterpillars and different extract concentrations on the diet surface to obtain IC50 values. Two replicates, containing 10 caterpillars, were established in triplicate. The IC50 values were 4.15 and 6.24 mg of extract mL−1 for first-instar and second-instar caterpillars, respectively. These growth inhibition results informed the extract concentrations assessed in subsequent development inhibition assays, in which the pupal weight was higher under the control than under the treatments. Extract treatments increased the duration of the larval, pupal and total development. The potential of different concentrations of S. erecta extract to inhibit the enzymes carboxylesterases was also evaluated. Carboxylesterases activity decreased by 41.96 and 43.43% at 7.8 and 15.6 μg mL−1 extract, respectively. At 31.3 μg mL−1 extract, enzymatic activity was not detected. Overall, S. erecta leaf methanolic extract showed inhibitory potential against carboxylesterases.

The morphoanatomy of Serjania erecta Radlk (Sapindaceae) provides evidence of biotrophic interactions by endophytic fungi within leaves

“…Other trials have shown nematicidal effects against Pratylenchus zeae and P. jaehni ( Slomp et al, 2009 ), as well as antimicrobial effects against key human pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella setubal , Candida albicans , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , and Escherichia coli ( Cardoso et al, 2013 ). Metabolites present in S. erecta can also affect insects, as it directly interferes with the growth, metabolism, and development of caterpillars ( De Freitas et al., 2022 ).…”