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Lignin-based compounds for the microencapsulation of neem extract for the control of Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) larvae on maize roots

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Abstract

Diabrotica speciosa (Germar) larvae have been considered one of the major subterranean pests of several crops, including maize (Zea mays L) in South America. Currently, there are limited options for managing this pest in maize, and botanical insecticides are a potential option that could provide additional modes of action against D. speciosa. One of the major barriers to using botanical insecticides is their instability due to their rapid degradation in the environment. Lignin extracted from sugarcane bagasse, a byproduct which is largely produced in the Brazilian sugarcane industries, was tested for encapsulating neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) extract with and without additional additives to provide stability in some formulations. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the effect of neem extract in different microencapsulated formulations and doses to control D. speciosa. In addition, effects on maize plant development were assayed. In low-dose neem testing, the microencapsulated formulations with the additives Tinogard®, Silicone, Styleze® and Styleze® + Tinogard® were the most efficient in controlling D. speciosa larvae. Most of the formulations delayed the larva to adult period, which could lead to fewer generations per year. Moreover, LigN + silicone caused reduction in the weight of adults. All additives were not toxic to D. speciosa. Overall, the low doses of neem had no negative effect on the development of maize plants. In high-dose neem testing all the insects died, but the high-doses were toxic to plants. The aforementioned low-dose formulations seem a promising tool for controlling D. speciosa in maize fields.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Sarah Natalie Zukoff from Cal Poly (Strawberry Center) for her helpful suggestions and English grammar review; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq (140589/2013-9) (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP (2011/11.860-5; 2011/00.970-4) (São Paulo Research Foundation) for financial support and scholarship granted to the first, third and last authors, respectively.

Funding

This study was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq (140589/2013-9) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP (2011/11.860-5; 2011/00.970-4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, 79804-970, Brazil

    Eduardo Neves Costa

  2. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Campus de Jaboticabal, Departamento de Ciências da Produção Agrícola, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil

    Eduardo Neves Costa, Luciano Nogueira, Renato Franco Oliveira de Moraes & Arlindo Leal Boiça Júnior

  3. Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), SP, 13565-905, São Carlos, Brazil

    Moacir Rossi Forim & Eveline Soares Costa

  4. Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano, GO, 73900-000, Posse, Brazil

    Luciano Nogueira

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  1. Eduardo Neves Costa
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Contributions

ENC, ALBJ and MRF conceived and designed research. ENC, LN, RFOM conducted experiments. MRF and ESC developed microencapsulated formulations. ENC, ALBJ, and MRF analyzed data. ENC wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Eduardo Neves Costa.

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Costa, E.N., Forim, M.R., Costa, E.S. et al. Lignin-based compounds for the microencapsulation of neem extract for the control of Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) larvae on maize roots. Phytoparasitica 49, 959–970 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-021-00915-x

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