Insect Growth Inhibitory Potential of Glory Lily, Gloriosa Superba Linn. (colchicaceae) Against Tobacco Leaf Eating Caterpillar, Spodoptera Litura [fabricius] (lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Plant origin pesticides are becoming potential input in pest management strategies because of their diversity in active ingredients which are present as a blend and helping to get rid of negative effects of conventional chemical pesticides. To ascertain the potential of Gloriosa superba tubers for pest management, present investigation was carried out against a polyphagous pest, Spodoptera litura [Fabricius]. Shade dried tubers of G. superba were ground, powdered and then subjected for extraction with different solvents of varying polarity. Growth inhibitory activity of different extracts against third instar larvae of S. litura through diet incorporation method revealed that among different extracts chloroform and methanol extracts were effective. The methanol extract was further subjected to column chromatography from which six fractions were obtained which then tested. Characterisation of fractions revealed the presence of colchicine (rn/z 399.85 [M+]), colchicoside (m/z 547 [M+]) and 2-demethyl colchicine (m/z 385.85 [M+]) among which fraction containing colchicine was most effective. Various types of abnormalities and larval and pupal weight reductions were also observed which showed that this plant possess insect growth regulatory potential.