RESUMEN
The antifeedant and contact toxicity of Sphagneticola trilobata L. (Asterales: Asteraceae) extracts and isolated alkane compounds were investigated. Leaves of S. trilobata were sequentially extracted with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Each extract and the compounds isolated were evaluated against the third instars of Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae). Ethyl acetate extract and isolated alkanes were feeding deterrents as well as contact toxins against all the three species evaluated (FI50 ~ 0.27-2.34 mg/ml; LD50 ~ 0.88-4.2 µg/larvae for ethyl acetate extract, and FI50 ~ 0.06-4.35 mg/ml; LD50 ~ 0.72-3.54 Ethyl acetate extract for isolated alkane). Impact on detoxifying enzymes was variable. The ethyl acetate crude extract reduced carboxylesterase activity in S. litura and P. xylostella while in S. exigua the enzyme was induced. In contrast, glutathione-S-transferase activity was induced in S. exigua but no significant difference in P. xylostella and S.litura was observed. Our results suggest that the S. trilobata extracts have multiple biological activities that contribute to the toxicity in lepidopterans. Variable enzyme responses to the products evaluated in different lepidopteran species also confirm that some species-specific inductions do occur, suggesting the possibility of resistance development in the future, which cannot be summarily ignored. However, for this detailed biochemical studies are required. Multiple bioefficacies of S. trilobata makes it a potential botanical for further exploitation on larger scale so that field potential can be established in any integrated pest management (IPM) system.