Botanical extract solutions for spodoptera pest management

Overview

This research program develops botanical insecticide solutions for managing Spodoptera spp., a globally significant agricultural pest genus. Conventional synthetic insecticides such as organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids have driven widespread insect resistance, environmental contamination, toxic residues in the food chain, harm to mammals, and biodiversity loss. The program leverages plant-derived secondary metabolites, which evolved as natural herbivory defenses, as an alternative pest management strategy. The lab improves the insecticidal properties of botanical extracts and isolated compounds through toxicological evaluation, either used alone, combined with conventional insecticides, or modified in chemical structure.

Technical specifications

Research capabilities and approach:

• Plant extraction and isolation of active compounds from botanical sources
• Toxicity assays evaluating botanical insecticides against Spodoptera species, testing isolated compounds alone and in combination with synthetic insecticides
• Detoxification enzyme activity analysis to measure insect metabolic response after exposure to new insecticide formulations
• Resistance gene expression analysis to identify and characterize resistance mechanisms in Spodoptera spp. following treatment with novel formulations
• Chemical structure modification of botanical compounds to enhance insecticidal efficacy
• Combination formulation development pairing phytochemicals with conventional insecticides for integrated resistance management

Technology readiness level

The program is at an active research and validation stage. Future validation activities include completing plant extraction and active compound isolation, conducting toxicity assays with botanical insecticides alone and in combination with synthetic agents, performing detoxification enzyme analysis, and executing resistance gene expression profiling. The research is positioned to generate formulation candidates suitable for further development toward commercial pest management applications.