Larvicidal and Antifeedant Effects of Copper Nano-Pesticides against Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) and Its Immunological Response

Simple Summary

The polyphagous agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) has a high level of chemical pesticide resistance. This study’s objective is to create and assess the effectiveness of CuO NPs (copper oxide nanoparticles) with a variety of tests against S. frugiperda for larvicidal, antifeedant, immunological, and enzymatic activities. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDaX) analysis and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to analyze copper nanoparticles for the identification of physical and chemical properties. The CuO NPs demonstrated high larvicidal and antifeedant activity. The CuO NPs treatment significantly reduced the number of larval hemocytes 24 h after treatment when compared to the control; hemocyte counts and sizes also varied. The levels of larval acetylcholinesterase enzyme levels were decreased with dose-dependent activity after 24 h of treatment with CuO NPs. The current research conclusively shows that CuO NPs have remarkable larvicidal antifeedant activity.

Abstract

This study aimed to synthesize and evaluate the efficacy of CuO NPs (copper oxide nanoparticles) with varying test concentrations (10–500 ppm) against larvicidal, antifeedant, immunological, and enzymatic activities against larvae of S. frugiperda at 24 h of treatment. Copper nanoparticles were characterized by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDaX) analysis. The EDaX analysis results clearly show that the synthesized copper nanoparticles contain copper as the main element, and the SEM analysis results show nanoparticle sizes ranging from 29 to 45 nm. The CuO NPs showed remarkable larvicidal activity (97%, 94%, and 81% were observed on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar larvae, respectively). The CuO NPs produced high antifeedant activity (98.25%, 98.01%, and 98.42%), which was observed on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar larvae, respectively. CuO NPs treatment significantly reduced larval hemocyte levels 24 h after treatment; hemocyte counts and sizes changed in the CuO NPs treatment compared to the control. After 24 h of treatment with CuO NPs, the larval acetylcholinesterase enzyme levels decreased with dose-dependent activity. The present findings conclude that CuO NPs cause remarkable larvicidal antifeedant activity and that CuO NPs are effective, pollution-free green nano-insecticides against S. frugiperda.

1. Introduction

The agricultural industry has been hit hard in the past few decades due to global warming, land degradation, and ferocious pests and diseases, among other factors, leading to an overwhelming reduction in crop yields [1]. This has raised concerns with the projection of the year 2050 when the need for food to feed the population is estimated to rise significantly. Coupled with that, insect pests have not only become increasingly voracious but resistant to most of the chemicals used against them [2,3,4]. Specifically, S. frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) can damage more than 300 plant species, mainly gramineous species, causing significant economic losses to crops such as maize, rice, crabgrass, sorghum, cotton, and vegetable crops, among others [5,6,7,8,9]. This insect has been a native pest of India, Thailand, and China, and subtropics for decades, but it has since spread across the continent, especially in Brazil, the United States, and Argentina [10]. However, in 2016, S. frugiperda was found in west Africa and, within a short time, it spread widely across the continent [10,11,12]. In 2018, this invasive pest was discovered in southern India [12] and has since spread throughout Asian countries [13]

Currently, S. frugiperda has been spotted in more than 50 major places in Thailand, with the highest population level in six of the western provinces with large corn fields [14,15]. Active research on how to control it has been going on due to its destructive nature and the threat it poses to corn production among other crops [16]. Unfortunately, entomologists are currently facing a major challenge in developing long-term control strategies for insects and pests, especially for S. frugiperda [17,18,19,20]. The widespread use of chemical insecticides and pesticides harms non-target species and the green ecosystem, and it has resulted in increasingly growing resistance in the targeted species [4,21,22,23]. A direct effect of synthetic chemicals on human health and non-target species is currently evident [24]. Furthermore, chemical pesticides are lost during application due to volatilization, oxidation, and photolysis, with less than 0.1% of the product being effective against target organisms [25]. To address the above issues, an innovative, updated approach to insect pest control is needed, which will reduce human and environmental risks [26]. Even in the United States, where it originated, controlling this pest has been a daunting task. Aside from the environmental risks that chemical insecticides and pesticides pose, they often build resistance to certain chemicals over time when they are used to manage the S. frugiperda. On the other hand, the application of nanotechnology and using it for insect pest control has opened a new path for pest management [27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34]. Nanoparticles have been used as insect control agents for decades, and they provide an alternative and safer insecticidal source for organic farming and IPM programs [35,36].

Nanotechnology is a new strategy to control crop insect pests with several advantages, such as, effective, pollution-free, target-specific, and cheaper [30,37]. According to Amerasan et al. [38], botanical-derived nanoparticles possess strong feeding, fecundity inhibitory, and growth regulatory effects against stored grain insect pests. Furthermore, copper nanoparticles have stronger insecticidal activity than nanoparticles [9,23,33]. According to Shaker et al. [39], using copper nanoparticles showed strong insecticidal activity against cotton leaf worms. In addition, copper nanoparticles can be easily mixed with polymers and are relatively stable in environmental conditions. Since copper is cheaper and more accessible than other nanometals, it is a cost-effective way to control insect pests in agriculture [9,23,33]. However, the effect of copper nanoparticles on lepidopteran insect control has not been completely understood. The present research aims to chemically synthesize and evaluate the larvicidal, antifeedant, immunological, and enzymatic activities against larvae of S. frugiperda at 24 h of treatment under laboratory conditions.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Research Area

The current study is carried out at the Insect Pathology Laboratory, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai. The relative humidity of Chiang Mai is 71 ± 5%, while the average temperature ranges from 25 to 35 °C [9].

2.2. Insects Culture

Fall armyworm S. frugiperda larvae were collected from a maize field at Chiang Mai University, Thailand (98.97° E and 18.77° N). This larval culture was kept in plastic containers (19 cm wide, 27 cm long, and 8 cm high) at 26 ± 2 °C, 85% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 12:12 h (Dark:Light). Baby young corn is fed to the larvae.

2.3. Chemical Synthesis of CuO NPs

A chemical reduction process was used to synthesize copper nanoparticles following the method of Khan et al. [40]. A precursor salt was made from copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate, and the capping agent was starch. The solution of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate is kept in 120 mL of the starch solution and stirred vigorously for 30 min after adding 0.1 M, 120 mL of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate solution to the mixture. The solution was then stirred continuously with 50 mL 0.2 M ascorbic acid solution. During the 2 h of heating at 80 °C, 30 mL of a 1 M NaOH solution was gradually added to the prepared solution with constant stirring. In the end, the yellowish-brown color of the solution changed from yellow to brown. As part of the experimental procedure, we hung the solution in a dark place overnight, discarded the supernatant, and kept the pellet for use in further experiments.

2.4. Characterization of CuO NPs

A scanning electron microscope (SEM, Hitachi, Bangkok, Thailand) and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDaX, Hitachi, Bangkok, Thailand) were used to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles’ morphology and chemical composition. For EDaX (Jeol, Tokyo, Japan), the acceleration voltage was 20.0 kV. A tiny copper stub was covered with a double-sided adhesive carbon conductive tape that was sprinkled with dispersed nanoparticles. A gold-sputtering machine (JFC 1500) is then used to coat the sample with gold.

2.5. Larvicidal Activity

The Cu NPs were used to evaluate the insect larvicidal activity after 24 h of treatment. Chemically synthesized nanoparticles with different concentrations (10, 100, 300, and 500 ppm) were prepared, and then larvae were dipped individually in the above-mentioned concentration and allowed to air dry for 10–15 min. Then all the larvae were individually transferred to the bioassay container. About 30 larvae per replication (n = 90) were used separately, and each concentration had three replicates. Corn pieces alone were used as a negative control containing 30 larvae, and these were performed in three replicates (n = 90). After 24 h, results are recorded. By using (1), the mortality was calculated, and natural mortality was corrected by using (2), according to Abbott’s [41] formula.

$$\mathrm{Percentage} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{mortality}=\frac{\mathrm{Number} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{dead} \mathrm{larvae}}{\mathrm{Number} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{larvae} \mathrm{introduced}} \times 100$$

(1)

$$\mathrm{Corrected} \mathrm{percentage} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{mortality}=(1-\frac{\mathrm{N} \mathrm{in} \mathrm{T} \mathrm{after} \mathrm{treatment}}{\mathrm{N} \mathrm{in} \mathrm{C} \mathrm{after} \mathrm{treatment}}) \times 100$$

(2)

The mortality rate was measured after 24 h of treatment and compared to the control. The percentage mortality rate was calculated using Equation (1), and the adjusted percentage mortality was calculated using Abbott’s formula [41], Equation (2), where T is the number of larvae in the treatment groups and C is the number of larvae in the control groups.

2.6. Antifeedant Activity

The outer skin of young, fresh maize was peeled off and sliced into 5–6 cm lengths. To get rid of extra dust and microorganisms, corn kernels are first cleaned with tap water and then with double-distilled water. The maize pieces were coated with various concentrations of chemically synthesized nanoparticles (10, 100, 300, and 500 ppm), and they were then left to air dry for 10 to 15 min. Each concentration consisted of three replicates and employed about 30 larvae per replication. In three replicates (n = 90), the nanoparticles free corn pieces were used as a negative control, which contains three replicates and each replicates contains 30 larvae. After 24 h treatments, the antifeedant activity were recorded. Formula 3 was used to compute the feeding deterrence index (FDI).

$$\mathrm{FDI} \frac{\mathrm{C}-\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{C}+\mathrm{T}} \times 100$$

where C and T are the weights of control and treated corn eaten by S. frugiperda, respectively.

2.7. Total Hemocyte Count (THC)

The Tauber–Yeager fluid (NaCl = 4.65 g, KCl = 0.15 g, CaCl₂ = 0.11 g, gentian violet = 0.005 g, acetic acid = 0.125 m, distilled water = 100 mL) was used to dilute hemolymph to the 0.5 mL threshold. After that, the pipette was gently mixed for 2–3 min. After that the hemocytes were counted using Jones’ formula [42], using an Olympus light microscope (Olympus BXFM, Bangkok, Thailand) set to 40× magnification.

$$\mathrm{Number} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{hemocytes}/{\mathrm{mm}}^3=\frac{\mathrm{X}\times \mathrm{dilution}\times 10\times 100}{\mathrm{Number} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{smallest} \mathrm{squares} \mathrm{counted}}$$

2.8. Acetylcholinesterase Assay

The colorimetric approach previously reported was used to test acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, Ellman et al. [43]. Monoterpenoids were dissolved in 100% ethanol, and 40 µL of substrate and AChE (100 µL) were combined in a cuvette, followed by DTNB (200 µL) and inhibitor solution (1 mL) in concentrations of 1 mM, 10 mM, 50 mM, and 100 mM. Nonenzymic hydrolysis was compensated for in tests and control assays (without terpenoids). Substrate doses of 1 mM, 2 mM, 5 mM, and 10 mM were employed. Because the results of the second replication were nearly identical to those of the first, each experiment was duplicated only twice. The level of AChE activity was measured at 25 °C using a PharmaSpec UV-1700 Shimadzu Spectrophotometer (American Laboratory Trading (ALT), Bangkok, Thailand) set at 412 nm.

2.9. Statistical Analysis

The experimental data were recorded using standard procedures. An analysis of variance and multiple comparison test was performed with the data expressed as (mean ± S.E). According to the Tukey test at p < 0.05, statistical values that are separated by the same letter are not substantially different (one-way ANOVA). The statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS version 23.0. (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA, 2015).

3. Results

3.1. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Analysis

Results of CuO NPs reveal their surface morphology. Copper nanoparticles’ shape is spherical (Figure 1). The nanoparticles’ size range is 29 to 45 nm.

3.2. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy

As a result, shown in Figure 2, CuO NPs are a major element according to the EDaX spectrum (Figure 2). A peak at 1, a peak at 8.04, and a peak at 8.94 keV were the strongest. One of the eight necessary plant micronutrients is copper (Cu), which is involved in many enzymatic activities in plants, such as chlorophyll and seed formation. Copper deficiency can make crops more likely to get diseases such as ergot, which can reduce the yield of small grains. Using copper-derived Cu NPs (copper nanoparticles) for insect pest control in the field conditions will result in multiple benefits such as insect control, disease control, increasing enzymatic activity in the plants, and increasing the chlorophyll content.

3.3. Larvicidal Effect

The larvicidal activity results clearly show that copper nanoparticles caused high larvicidal activity against 3rd instar larvae of S. frugiperda and the mortality range is 70–100% (df 4; F_(4,10) = 251.632; p < 0.01), in 4th instar larvae mortality range is 65–94% (df 4; F_(4,10) = 339.000; p < 0.01) (Figure 3a,b), in 5th instar larvae mortality range is 53–81% (df 4; F_(4,10) = 454.750; p < 0.01) (Figure 3a,b). Among the S. frugiperda larval instar, the 3rd and 4th instar larvae were highly susceptible to copper nanoparticles treatment.

3.4. Antifeedant Effect

The copper nanoparticles show remarkable antifeedant effects against 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar larvae of S. frugiperda after 24 h of nanoparticles treatment in corn. The copper nanoparticles treatment shows remarkable antifeedant effect on 3rd instar larvae of S. frugiperda, the antifeedant effect range is 8–98% (df 4; F_(4,10) = 4623.617; p < 0.01), in 4th instar larval antifeedant effect range is 29–98% (df 4; F_(4,10) = 470.181; p < 0.01), and in 5th instar larvae antifeedant effect range is 7–98% (df 4; F_(4,10) = 2573.571; p < 0.01) (Figure 4a,b).

Young corn was treated with copper nanoparticles, and the results showed that the S. frugiperda insect larvae did not eat the nanoparticle-treated food (corn). Because of the nanoparticles’ odor and toxicity, S. frugiperda insect larvae may avoid corn food. This study clearly shows that the S. frugiperda insect pest avoids nanoparticle-treated corn food behaviorally (Figure 4b).

3.5. Total Haemocyte Count

The results showed that the hemocyte levels were reduced as copper nanoparticle concentration was increased. A higher dose of copper nanoparticles 500 ppm caused a 19.42% reduction in hemocyte count after 24 h of treatment and was statistically different compared to the control (df 4; F_(4,10) = 265.073; p ≤ 0.01) (Figure 4c and Figure 5). The nanoparticles-treated S. frugiperda larval hemocyte sizes were bigger compared to control group.

3.6. Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme

The S. frugiperda larval acetylcholinesterase activity was shown to be lowered by 20.37% at a lower concentration of 10 ppm, according to the results. On the other hand, higher concentrations (500 ppm) revealed a 60.25% reduction in acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity (Figure 6). Acetylcholinesterase activity was statistically different from the control at all treated concentrations (df 4; F_(4,10) = 106.408; p < 0.01).

4. Discussion

In the present studies, we synthesized the CuO nanoparticles using starch as a binding agent and copper sulfate as a primary source. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using SEM and EdaX analysis. The copper nanoparticles SEM analysis shows that the nano-particle size range is 29–45 nm and it is spherical in nature. The EDaX analysis results show that copper nanoparticles contain copper as a major element in the chemical-synthesized CuO nanoparticles. Similarly, Vivekanandhan et al. [33] reported that entomopathogenic fungi-derived silver nanoparticles show a similar size to the nanoparticles, and their particles were highly effective against disease-transmitting mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus.

Currently, several metal nanoparticles were synthesized using different methods such as physically, chemically, and biologically derived metal nanoparticles, but the mode of action of cooper nanoparticle in insect pests is not completely understood [44,45,46]. The nanoparticles can pass through epithelial and endothelial cells using the transcytosis process [47]. Due to this inherent property, nanoparticles are easily able to penetrate dendrites, axons, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels, which results in oxidative stress [48]. The present studies show that chemically synthesized copper nanoparticles caused high larvicidal activity after 24 h of the treatment. Among the larval stages, the 3rd instar larvae are highly susceptible to copper nanoparticles. Compared to 5th instar larvae, the 4th instar larvae were highly susceptible to nanoparticles. Similar to our studies, Pittarate et al. [9] reported that the chemical synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles showed remarkable insecticidal efficacy against larvae, pupae, and adults of the S. frugiperda insect pest. Several bodily abnormalities were also noticed during the insect’s life cycle in the S. frugiperda insect pest. Additionally, the females’ fertility was significantly impacted.

Previous findings demonstrated that M. robertsii-mediated CuNPs are extremely toxic to the targeted insect pests (An. stephensi, Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus, T. molitor), but less hazardous to non-target organisms (A. salina, A. nauplii, E. eugeniae, and E. andrei) [49]. The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), was reported to have 100 % mortality in adults’ nanoparticles [50]. According to Ki et al. [51], nano-silver-treatment caused high insecticidal activity against Tinea pellionella (L.) larvae. Nanostructured alumina (NSA dust) is highly toxic to R. dominica and S. oryzae adult insect pest, where 95% mortality was observed after 3 days of nanoparticles treatment. S. oryzae adults are highly susceptible to NSA [52]. Similarly, in Murugan et al. [53], AgNPs synthesized from C. scalpelliformis and C. agardh caused 80% mortality against 1st–4th instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus with minimal concentrations.

The present study shows that chemically synthesized copper nanoparticles caused high antifeedant activity against the 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar larvae of S. frugiperda. Similar to our studies, larvae of Spodoptera litura treated with nanoparticles caused remarkable insecticidal activity and developmental changes in insect larvae [54]. Similarly, in this experiment, the total larval period was prolonged when compared to the control. Another study from the same laboratory showed that iron nanoparticles, zinc nanoparticles, cadmium nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles, and lead nanoparticles delayed larval growth in lepidopteran larvae [55,56,57,58]. In addition, larvae in high-metal diets may need more energy for metal-detoxification, which is caused by metals entering into biochemical reactions they are not normally involved in [59,60]. Insect midguts serve as the main sites of absorption and play a significant role in metabolic activity [61]. In the digestive tract, metal interferences accumulate in gut cells, preventing them from entering the bloodstream [62].

Previous research has reported malformations in larvae, pupae, and adults when exposed to nanoparticles. Moreover, Zn NPs and silica nanoparticles have been observed to cause deformations in insects [9,63]. The present studies clearly show that copper nanoparticle treatments reduced the total haemocyte counts and acetylcholinesterase enzyme levels in the larvae of S. frugiperda after 24 h. The dose-dependent activity was observed in the hemocyte levels. Similarly, Vivekanandhan et al. [64] reported that insect pathogenic fungi conidia treatment reduced the S. litura larval hemocyte counts and acetylcholinesterase enzyme levels with dose-dependent activity. CuO NPs are an important class of nanomaterials for a variety of applications (medical, environmental, and industrial), and a few researchers have observed that copper nanoparticles pose potential dangers to non-target animals and the green environment. More research is needed on the physiochemical properties of CuO NPs, concentration, mechanism of action, and non-target toxicity of CuO NPs [65,66,67,68].

5. Conclusions

Chemically synthesized copper nanoparticles caused remarkable larvicidal and antifeedant effects as observed against Spodoptera frugiperda larvae after 24 h post-treatment. The larval mortality and antifeedant effects increased as the test concentrations increased. The copper nanoparticles-treated larval hemocyte count and acetylcholinesterase enzyme levels were significantly decreased after 24 h of treatment. S. frugiperda was also killed by chemically synthesized copper nanoparticles at minimal concentrations with excellent larvicidal and antifeedant activity.