Abstract
Bryophytes are a potential group for the discovery of biologically active substances to pest control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifeedant and insecticidal effect of the ethanolic extract of Sematophyllum subsimplex (Hedw). Mitt. on second-instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith, 1797) on corn (Zea mays L.) leaves. The bioassay involved placing individual larvae in petri dishes and fed circular corn leaf sections with 50 µl of the extract at concentrations of 2.0%, 1.0%, 0.5% and 0.25% µg/µl, and DMSO (control), with five replicates, in no-choice feeding assays. Herbivory and mortality rates were assessed 24, 48 and 72 hours after application of the extract. The concentration of 0.25 μg/μl had a positive antifeedant effect shortly after 24 hours. All tested concentrations caused high mortality rates, suggesting insecticidal activity. This is the first scientific work to report the antifeedant and/or insecticidal activity of S. subsimplex and can be the basis for botanical insecticide formulation.
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