PEST CONTROL POTENTIAL OF CYCLOSOROUS INTERRUPTUS, CHRISTELLA DENTATA AND NEPHROLEPIS CORDIFOLIA ON THE BIOLOGY OF SPODOPTERA LITURA (FAB.)

The present experiment was designed to investigate the pesticididal property of the chosen ferns viz., Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd.) H.Itô (Theylepteridaceae), Christella dentata (Willd.) (Forssk.) Brownsey et Jermy (Theylepteridaceae), and Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) Presl. Phytochemical analysis carried out using methanol extracts of the experimental ferns revealed the presence of the secondary metabolites like alkaloids, steroids, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and phenolic compounds in methanolic extracts of the experimental ferns. The nano particles of chosen fern extracts synthesized using silver nitrate (AgNO3) showed the characteristic colour change from pale yellow to dark brown indicated the synthesis of silver based nano particles. The UV- Visible spectrum obtained for the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of the experimental ferns confirmed the synthesis of nanoparticles (433.50 nm, 447.00 nm and 444.00 nm for C. interruptus, C. dentata and N. cordifolia, respectively). Bioassay on the pesticidal property of the methanol extracts and ferns-AgNP were evaluated against third instar larvae of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The results of the bioassay revealed the impact of methanolic extracts and their AgNP particles on the developmental period, pupal weight, percentage of pupation and adult emergence and also caused larval, pupal and adult deformities that confirm the insecticidal activity of the experimental ferns.