Format: ORAL

K.C. Shilaluke, D.T Ndintehand A. Moteetee

University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Environmental and health hazards linked to synthetic pesticides have prompted a growing interest in botanical insecticides as safer and environmentally friendly alternatives for controlling insect pests in agriculture. Following the historical utilization of plants in folk remedies and their continued application in diverse communities, this study explores the insecticidal potential of nine traditionally recognized plants as insecticides against the Spodoptera frugiperda larvae. The feeding deterrence activity of methanol and hexane extracts was evaluated using a choice test bioassay where maize leaves were used as test food. Podalyria sericea and Cassytha ciliolata hexane extracts were the most toxic to the larvae, with LC50 values of 0.779 and 0.993 mg/ml, respectively, as compared to the methanol extracts LC50 values of 1.853 and 1.461 mg/ml, respectively. Subsequently, the most efficient insecticidal extracts underwent further chemical analysis for compound isolation, purification, and structural elucidation of secondary metabolites. The efficacy of the isolated compounds with insecticidal activity will be evaluated and compared with synthetic insecticides, paving the way for a comprehensive assessment of their potential use as sustainable alternatives in pest management.