113Nanomaterials: A Review of Their
Action and Application in Pest
Management and Evaluation
of DNA-Tagged Particles
M. Chandrashekharaiah, Subhash B. Kandakoor,
G. Basana Gowda, Vasudev Kammar
and A. K. Chakravarthy
A. K. Chakravarthy (ed.), New Horizons in Insect Science: Towards Sustainable Pest Management,
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-2089-3_12, © Springer India 2015
A. K. Chakravarthy () · M. Chandrashekharaiah
S. B. Kandakoor · G. B. Gowda · V. Kammar
Department of Agricultural Entomology, Gandhi Krishi
Vignan Kendra (GKVK), University of Agricultural
Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka 560065 India
e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
Nanotechnology, a new field of research, prompted scientists to work
on a wide range of aspects. Nanoparticles relating to pest management
include formulation for herbicides and pesticides. The potential uses of
nanotechnology in insect–pest management include the slow release,
efficient dosage of insecticides, and provide diagnostic tools for early
detection. Application of nanaoparticles also includes development of
nanodispensers, nanogels, and nanocapsules. Effects of different in-
organic nanoparticles against selected insects were evaluated under
laboratory conditions. DNA-tagged nanogold caused 30.50, 57.50,
and 75.00 % mortality on third, fourth, and fifth instar Spodoptera li-
tura larvae, respectively. CdS nanoparticle caused highest S. litura lar-
val mortality of 21.41–93.79 % at 150 and 2400 ppm, respectively. The
nano-TiO2 showed maximum of 73.79 % S. litura larval mortality at
2400 ppm and the least was 18.50 % at 150 ppm. Nano-Ag caused maxi-
mum 56.89 % S. litura mortality at 2400 ppm followed by 46.89 and
33.44 % mortality at 1200 and 600 ppm, respectively. Nanoparticles
coated with ecdysteroid analogues like tebufenozide and halofenozide
were tested against Corcyra cephalonica. The treated eggs did not hatch
due to arrest of embryonic development. Tebufenozide and halofenozide
caused maximum larval mortality at 80 ppm. These two compounds at
80 ppm reduced fecundity and fertility in adults. Tebufenozide against
Helicoverpa armigera larvae reduced the larval weight. Tebufenozide
at 5.00 ppm was reduced the larval weight significantly (14.23 ± 1.43
and 112.35 ± 0.29, respectively) compared to control. Histopathologi-
cal effects of tebufenozide at the light microscopic level showed vacu-
olation and inhibition of imaginal buds. At electron microscopic level,