Biocontrol Efficacy of Mycosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticle Using Trichoderma sp. on Insect Pest Spodoptera litura

Insect pest control is facing a major challenge due to the increase of insecticide resistance, so alternative approaches are urgently needed. In this present study, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were synthesized using Trichoderma fungus culture filtrate and tested on Spodoptera litura larvae. Synthesized SeNPs was characterized using UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDaX, and DLS analysis. UV-Vis spectroscopy shows a maximum peak at 259 nm. The presence of multiple functional groups such as, anhydrides, phosphines, nitro groups, alkanes, alcohols and sulfonates was identified by using FTIR. Synthesized SeNPs are spherical in shape as per SEM analysis. EDaX analysis confirms the presence of selenium elemental compound (87.98%). XRD study reveals that the selenium appears as crystalline in nature. DLS shows that SeNPs size range between 40 to 100 nm. SeNPs tested for larvicidal activity on S. litura larvae at three different concentrations showed significant larval mortality after 48 h of exposure LC50 and LC90 value of SeNPs were 39.739 and 142.839 ppm respectively. Highest antifeedant activity was observed in 100 mu g/ml at 48 h of SeNPs exposure. The overall results shows that the Trichoderma, selenium nanoparticles are very effective as larvicidal and antifeedant agent and can be used for control of S. litura larvae.