Dual Action of Argania spinosa Oil and Steinernema feltiae on Spodoptera littoralis: Control Efficiency and Biochemical Disruption | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Chemistry | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 October 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejchem.2025.411222.12144 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Hala M. Metwally1; Elham Samour2; Samar S. Ibrahim* 1 | ||
| 1Pests and Plant Protection Department, National Research Centre, Giza, 12622, Egypt | ||
| 2NRC | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis) is a major pest of numerous crops and has developed resistance to many chemical insecticides, necessitating sustainable control alternatives. This study evaluated the efficacy of Argania spinosa oil (in pure and emulsifiable concentrate [EC] forms) and the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae, individually and in combination, against third-instar S. littoralis larvae under laboratory and semi-field conditions. Phytochemical screening by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that the primary compound in A. spinosa oil was Methyl 10-trans,12-cis-octadecadienoate (54.95%). In laboratory bioassays, both A. spinosa oil (tested as pure and EC formulations at 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0% using the leaf-dipping technique) and S. feltiae (applied at 50, 100, 200, and 400 IJs/mL/Petri dish) caused significant mortality, particularly at higher concentrations. The oil EC formulation did not compromise the infectivity of S. feltiae against larvae. Under semi-field conditions, combining A. spinosa EC oil with S. feltiae achieved the highest mortality (95.77–100%) within 5 to 7 days post-treatment. Biochemical assays for enzymatic activity showed that treatment with LC50 doses of either A. spinosa EC or S. feltiae significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities in S. littoralis larvae. These findings highlight the potential of A. spinosa oil, particularly in EC form, as a biocompatible agent with EPNs for integrated pest management, offering both direct lethality and biochemical disruption in S. littoralis control. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Acetylcholinesterase; Biochemical; Biological control; Botanical insecticides; Glutathione S-transferase; Steinernema feltiae | ||
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