Toxicity and Antifeedant Activity of Calotropis gigantea L. Leaf Extract against Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Abstract

Many parts of the Calotropis gigantea plant are known to contain bioactive compounds, but leaves contain the most. This study aimed to determine the toxicity and antifeedant activity of C. gigantea leaves against Plutella xylostella. The study was carried out from November 2019 to July 2020. Toxicity was tested using the leaf dipping and spraying methods. Antifeedant activity was tested using a no-choice test and a choice test. Identification of the compound composition of the leaf extract of C. gigantea was carried out at the Integrated Research and Testing Laboratory, Gadjah Mada University. Extract toxicity data obtained were analyzed by Probit analysis. The results showed that the antifeedant activity of C. gigantea leaf extract a no-choice and with choice at each concentration had a significant effect on the consumption of P. xylostella larvae rations. The toxicity (LC50) of the leaf extract of C. gigantea to P. xylostella by the dipping method was 2,958 µgl-1 while the spraying application was 3.944 µgl-1. The composition of chemical compounds contained in the leaf extract of C. gigantea is saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids. With the composition of these chemical compounds, the leaf extract of C. gigantea has the potential as a source of vegetable insecticide compounds against P. xylostella.