Annually, several tons of residues that are rich in phenolic
compounds are produced during the processing of
acerola (
Malpighia emarginata
DC.) juice. Adding value
to these residues is of great interest, since they can be a
viable solution in the search for natural substances with
insecticidal action and low impact on the environment and
humans. Taking into account the economic losses from
the attacks by the fall armyworm
Spodoptera frugiperda
(J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in different crops,
the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the
extract of acerola bagasse flour (ABF) against this insect
and determine the phenolic compounds in this extract.
Bagasse of acerola (BRS238 or Frutacor clon) generated
after juice production, was frozen and lyophilized. To
obtain the extract, 6 g ABF was mixed with 60 mL
acetone:water solution (7:3 v/v), and the extract was
lyophilized.
Spodoptera frugiperda caterpillars, 48 h-old,
obtained by the maintenance breeding, were transferred
to glass tubes supplied with an artificial diet containing
the ABF extract at 0, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg L
-1
diet. The following variables were evaluated: duration
and survival of larval and pupal stages, pupal weight,
sex ratio, adult longevity, oviposition period, number of
egg masses, and total number of eggs. The ABF extract
contained several phenolic compounds including gallic
acid, epigallocatechin gallate, catechin,
p-coumaric acid,
salicylic acid, and quercetin. The extract was toxic to
S.
frugiperda, prolonging the pre-pupal stage and increasing
the mortality of caterpillars.
