The Effect of Lantana camara L. extract and Nano-silver extract of Lantana against Potato Tuber Moth [Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)]

The Effect of Lantana camara L. extract and Nano-silver extract of Lantana against Potato Tuber Moth [Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)] | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article The Effect of Lantana camara L. extract and Nano-silver extract of Lantana against Potato Tuber Moth [Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)] AYŞE YEŞİLAYER, Erhan Gülsoy This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7356301/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The widespread use of chemical pesticides has resulted in significant ecological disturbances and adverse effects on non-target organisms globally. In response, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising component of environmentally sustainable pest management strategies, fostering the development of innovative, natural, and safe biopesticides. This study investigates the insecticidal efficacy of ethanol and nano-silver extracts derived from the medicinal plant Lantana camara L. against the eggs and larvae of the Potato Tuber Moth ( Phthorimaea operculella [Zeller]), a critical quarantine pest threatening potato production in Turkey. The toxicological effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) extracts derived from L. camara were assessed based on the lethal concentration required to achieve 50% mortality (LC₅₀) in third instar larvae and 1-day-old eggs of P. operculella. The LC50–LC90 range was established as 6.56–54.72 for ethanol-based extracts and 1.45–6.59 for AgNp-based extracts. Maximum egg-hatching inhibition was recorded at a 12% ethanol extract concentration (76.5%) and 200 ppm AgNPs treatment (94.9%). The bioassay results indicated that silver nanoparticles formulations of L. camara were significantly more effective than ethanol extracts in controlling both larvae and eggs of the Potato Tuber Moth. Furthermore, treated potato tubers exhibited a marked reduction in adult moth emergence compared to the untreated control Phthorimaea operculella Lantana camara biopesticides nano-silver (AgNPs) Türkiye Figures Figure 1 Introduction Phthorimaea operculella -Zeller (Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae)-Potato Tuber Moth (PTM) commonly known as the Potato Tuber Moth (PTM), is regarded as one of the most destructive pests affecting potato crops in warm climate regions, leading to substantial economic losses on a global scale. While it infests various host plants within the Solanaceae family, it exhibits a marked preference for potato. The larvae feed on the mesophyll tissue, creating blotch mines within the leaves. Over time, the initially translucent mined areas become necrotic, turning brown and desiccated (Anonymous, 2013; 2020). The larvae occasionally burrow into the petiole and extend their feeding activity into the stem, often penetrating near the buds and excavating shallow galleries beneath the tuber skin. Biopesticides have emerged as effective alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides in the management of a wide range of agricultural pests. These sustainable, biologically derived, and environmentally benign pest control agents offer numerous advantages over conventional pesticides, including improved soil fertility, reduced environmental contamination, and enhanced safety for non-target organisms and human health. Nanotechnological formulations offer a significant advantage in pest management by enabling targeted delivery, enhancing biodegradability, and sustaining effective concentrations over extended periods, thereby minimizing the required chemical dosages (Sabbour, 2013, 2015; Sabbour et al., 2015; Rikta & Rajiv, 2021). Lantana camara , a species native to South America, demonstrates considerable potential as a biopesticidal agent. In Turkey, it is commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant, particularly in the Mediterranean, Marmara, and Aegean regions (Akkemik, 2014 ). In addition to its use as an ornamental and medicinal plant, Lantana camara L. has demonstrated insecticidal properties attributed to its phytochemical constituents, particularly the flavonoid compounds Lantaden A and B (Sharma et al., 1992 ; Babu et al., 1994 ; Ghisalberti, 2000 ). Similar to L. camara , various other plant extracts have been recognized for their ovicidal, repellent, and insecticidal activities (Isman, 2006; Devi & Devi, 2011 ). Beyond botanical formulations, nanotechnology has increasingly been integrated across diverse sectors—including textiles, food, healthcare, and agriculture—due to its potential for precision delivery and enhanced efficacy. Recent research has increasingly focused on the integration of metallic nanoparticles—such as nano-silver and nano-zinc—with plant-derived extracts for pest control applications. These synergistic formulations have demonstrated promising potential in pest management strategies. Biopesticides developed through green synthesis by combining plant extracts with nanoparticles (NPs) have been effectively utilized for the control of storage pests, including P. operculella , as well as other agricultural pests. These formulations offer an environmentally sustainable, cost-effective, and non-toxic alternative to conventional chemical pesticides (Duncan, 2011 ). Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of nanoparticles in pest control. Pandey et al. (2012) reported a 70% mortality rate in Sitophilus oryzae following nanoparticle exposure. Similarly, Rouhani et al. ( 2012 ) observed 83% toxicity of nano-silver treatments against Callosobruchus maculatus larvae. Furthermore, the nanoparticle-induced inhibition of feeding, oviposition, egg hatching, as well as their repellent and fumigant properties, have also been documented by Muhammed (2013), highlighting the multifaceted pest management potential of nanomaterials. The current study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal efficacy and egg-hatching inhibition potential of ethanol and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) derived from Lantana camara L. against the immature developmental stages of the Potato Tuber Moth ( Phthorimaea operculella ). Experimental Design and Treatments Plant Material and Insect Culture The immature developmental stages (larvae and eggs) of Phthorimaea operculella (PTM) were utilized in this study. Potato tubers, serving as a nutritional medium for the insects, were procured from cultivation plots within the research fields of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University. Leaves of Lantana camara L. were collected during June and July from the provinces of Yalova and Mersin. The collected plant material was transported to the Entomology Laboratory, where it was dried under controlled laboratory conditions. Adult male and female specimens of P. operculella were placed in 1-liter plastic containers, with honey supplied as a nutritional source. The container lids were removed, and sterile blotting paper was positioned over the openings, secured with muslin cloth to permit ventilation while preventing escape. Oviposition by adult females occurred on the sterile paper surface. The P. operculella culture was maintained under controlled laboratory conditions 23 ± 2°C, 65 ± 2% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 12:12 h light:dark. Extract Preparation and Toxicity of Lantana Plant Extract Dried Lantana plant material was ground into a fine powder, and 20 grams of the ground sample were extracted with 100 mL of ethanol (w/v). The mixture was agitated on a rotary shaker at 200 rpm for 24 hours. Following extraction, the solution was filtered through sterile filter paper, and the filtrate was allowed to stabilize at room temperature. The resulting stock solution was subsequently diluted with ethanol to obtain the desired concentrations of 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12% (w/mL). Ethanol alone was used as the control treatment (Zamin et al., 2014). Nano-silver-AgNOPs Green Synthesis The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was carried out using a 6% concentration of L. camara extract, previously determined to induce over 50% larval mortality in bioefficacy assays. For the synthesis of 1 mM (168 ppm) AgNPs, 0.02 g of commercially sourced silver nitrate (AgNO₃; Nano-Kar) was dissolved in 100 mL of deionized water (w/mL). The Lantana extract was then added to the silver nitrate solution. The mixture was incubated at 30°C for 30 minutes, during which a visible color change from yellow to brown indicated the formation of silver nanoparticles (Fig. 1 ) (Soni & Prakash, 2014). For this synthesized solution, experimental concentrations were prepared: 0 ppm (control), 50 ppm, 100 ppm, 150 ppm and 200 ppm (Saware et al., 2014; Oluwaniyi et al., 2015, Nartop, 2017). Toxicity Assay on Larvae The larvicidal activity of the plant extract was assessed using 3–4-day-old larvae PTM. Potato tubers of uniform weight were immersed in extract solutions of varying concentrations for 3 to 5 seconds. Subsequently, the treated tubers were air-dried at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes prior to larval exposure (Prijiono & Hassan, 1993). Dried potato tubers were placed into plastic containers measuring 5 cm in height and 11 cm in diameter. 10 larvae were carefully transferred onto each tuber using forceps. The containers were appropriately labeled and covered with transparent tulle to ensure aeration while preventing larval escape (Oroumchi & Lorra, 1993). The number of live and dead larvae was recorded daily, and observations continued until the larvae progressed to pupal and adult stages. The experimental design included five replications including control and was conducted in two independent trials. In the other part of the study; In this assay, the dipping-slide method—previously employed for ethanol extract treatments—was utilized to assess the larvicidal effects of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) derived from L. camara . A stock solution of AgNPs at 200 ppm (v/v) was prepared and subsequently diluted to achieve the target concentrations for testing (Munir & Muhammad 2005; Moslemi et al.2011; Sallam et al. 2009). The experiments were arranged in four replications, with ten larvae used per replicate. Control groups received no treatment. Larval mortality was recorded daily, and observations continued until the seventh day post-treatment. Each treatment was conducted in twice independent repetitions to ensure statistical robustness. Egg-Hatching Assay; Inhibition with Lantana Extracts The egg-hatching inhibition effect of plant extracts was evaluated using the dipping-slide method. Filter paper segments containing recently laid or one-day-old PTM eggs, previously used as oviposition substrates, were sectioned into groups containing twenty eggs each. These paper segments were briefly immersed in the prepared extract concentrations, air-dried, and subsequently transferred into sterile Petri dishes with a diameter of 90 mm. Each dish was carefully sealed to maintain consistent conditions throughout the experiment (Oroumchi & Lorra, 1993). Each treatment was conducted with fiver replicates, containing twenty eggs per replicate. Observations were carried out daily until the seventh day, at which point the total number of hatched and unhatched eggs was recorded (Kıvan, 2005). Egg-Hatching Inhibition Assay; with Nano-Silver Extracts To evaluate the egg-hatching inhibition effects of nano-silver extracts derived from Lantana camara, eggs were immersed in extract solutions at concentrations of 0, 100, 150, and 200 ppm. Following treatment, the number of unhatched eggs was observed and recorded. Each treatment consisted of twenty eggs, with assessments carried out under controlled laboratory conditions. Results The larvicidal toxicity of L. camara ethanol extract against P. operculella larvae varied significantly over time and across different treatment concentrations. At the lowest concentration, a mortality rate of 14.64% was recorded on the third day, which increased to 36% by the seventh day; this increase was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After seven days, the highest larvicidal effect was observed on the seventh day, with a mortality rate of 77.69% (Table 1 ). Table 1 The larvicidal activity of ethanol extracts derived from Lantana camara on Phthorimaea operculella larvae (mean ± SE) Treatment(%) 3th day 5th day 7th day 3 14.64 ± 0.20cd 34.73 ± 0.34d 36,12 ± 0.21d 6 9.83 ± 0.01c 41.13 ± 0.36c 52,37 ± 0.3c 9 16.65 ± 0.57b 52,52 ± 0.18b 63.33 ± 0.20b 12 25.12 ± 0.95a 62.61 ± 0.19a 77.69 ± 0.21a Control 0.00 ± 0.00d 0.00 ± 0.00e 0.16 ± 0.46e *Means indicated with different letters in the same row are significantly different (Tukey test, P < 0.05) On the 5th and 7th days of the experiment, Lantana camara ethanol extracts at concentrations of 6%, 9%, and 12% exhibited larvicidal effects exceeding 50%, with the differences in mean mortality rates found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). All tested concentrations of nano-silver extracts demonstrated toxic effects on PTMa larvae, with the highest concentration (12%) showing the greatest efficacy. Mortality rates observed at 6%, 9%, and 12% nano-silver concentrations were 55%, 74%, and 84%, respectively, with statistically significant differences across treatments (P < 0.05). Based on comparative mortality rates, the nano-silver formulations were determined to be more effective than the ethanol-based extracts (Table 2 ). Table 2 The larvicidal activity of nano-silver extracts of Lantana camara on Phthorimaea operculella larvae (mean ± SE) Treatment (ppm) 3th day 5th day 7th day 50 10.79 ± 0,81c 37.39 ± 0.19c 39.89 ± 0.21bc 100 18.35 ± 0,25bc 42.37 ± 0.39bc 55.33 ± 0.31b 150 23,59 ± 0,13b 52.57 ± 0.23b 70.25 ± 0.25ab 200 66.51 ± 0,34a 75.45 ± 0.32a 84.89 ± 1.24a Control 0.16 ± 0,46d 0.16 ± 0.46d 0.16 ± 0.46d * Means indicated with different letters in the same row are significantly different (Tukey test, P < 0.05) Lethal concentration (LC) values were estimated over a seven-day observation period. For the ethanol extract treatments, the LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values against Phthorimaea operculella larvae were calculated as 6.56% and 54.72%, respectively, with a heterogeneity value of 0.35 and a slope of 1.39. In comparison, the nano-silver extract treatments demonstrated higher efficacy, with an LC₅₀ of 1.45% and an LC₉₀ of 6.59%. The associated heterogeneity and slope values were 0.35 and 1.39 for LC₅₀, and 0.36 and 1.95 for LC₉₀, respectively (Table 3 ). Table 3 The LC 50 and LC 90 values of ethanol and nano-silver extracts treatments Treatment LC 50 (95%CL) LC 90 (95%CL) Slope ± SE χ2 Heterogeneity Lantana camara 6.56 (5.04–8.07) 54.72(30.02-200.76) 1.39 ± 0.27 10.49 0.35 L. camara + Ag-Np 1.45(1.10–1.74) 6.59(4.78–12.01) 1.95 ± 0.33 10.89 0.36 Efficiency of Ethanol and Nano-Silver Extracts of Lantana camara against PTM Eggs At a 6% concentration of ethanol extract from Lantana camara, the egg-hatching inhibition rate of Phthorimaea operculella was recorded as 60.69%, while a 100 ppm concentration of nano-silver extract achieved a slightly higher inhibition rate of 68.82%. In the control group, nearly all eggs successfully hatched. The maximum inhibition was observed at the highest concentration of nano-silver extract (200 ppm), reaching 94.95%. In both treatment types, the inhibition rate increased proportionally with concentration, and the differences among the treatment groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05) (Table 4 ). Table 4 Toxicity effects of ethanol and nano-silver extracts of Lantana camara on Phthorimaea operculella eggs (mean ± SE) Treatment (%) Lantana camara ethanol extracts Treatment (ppm) Lantana camara nano-silver extracts 3 46.87 ± 0,05 d 50 54,39 ± 0,06d 6 60.69 ± 0,12c 100 68,82 ± 0,08c 9 73.82 ± 0,06b 150 80,77 ± 0,10b 12 76.51 ± 0,34a 200 94,95 ± 0,80a Control 0.08 ± 0,02 e Control 0.08 ± 0,02 e * Means indicated with different letters in the same row are significantly different (Tukey test, P < 0.05) Eggs that failed to hatch were monitored through the seventh day of the experiment. The lethal concentration (LC) values for the ethanol extracts of Lantana camara were determined as LC₅₀ = 1.71% and LC₉₀ = 20.04%, with a slope of 1.99 and a chi-square (χ²) value of 10.09. In comparison, nano-silver extracts exhibited higher efficacy, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 3.96 ppm and 40.96 ppm, respectively (slope = 1.26, χ² = 7.68). These findings indicate that the nano-silver formulations were more effective than ethanol extracts in inhibiting egg hatching (Table 5 ). Table 5 The LC 50 and LC 90 values of ethanol and nano-silver extracts of Lantana camara Treatment LC 50 (95%CL) LC 90 (95%CL) Slope ± SE χ2 Heterogeneity Lantana camara 1.71 (1.31–2.07) 20.04(10.84–73.50) 1.99 ± 0.22 10.09 0.33 L. camara + Ag-Np 3.96 (2.80–4.87) 40.96(24.76–11.33) 1.26 ± 0.19 7.68 0.25 DISCUSSION This study examined the larvicidal and ovicidal effects of ethanol and green-synthesized nano-silver extracts of L. camara on the immature stages (eggs and larvae) of PTM. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized via a green method, utilizing L. camara extracts as a reducing agent, due to the method’s enhanced reliability and environmental compatibility (Mohapatro et al., 2015 ). Larval mortality began to manifest by the third day across all concentrations of ethanol extracts, with a mortality rate of approximately 53% recorded at a 6% concentration by day seven. Similarly, Kasmara et al. ( 2018 ) reported mortality rates exceeding 55% in Spodoptera litura larvae treated with L. camara extracts at concentrations ranging from 5–40%. Pavela ( 2011 ), investigating methanol extracts from various plant species against S. littoralis larvae, found that several—including Foeniculum vulgare and Artemisia campestris ,achieved 100% mortality by the fifth day, while others such as Lavandula angustifolia and Artemisia absinthium induced 39% mortality. In our study, the highest ethanol extract concentration resulted in 62.6% larval mortality by day five. In comparison, the nano-silver (AgNPs) extract of L. camara demonstrated enhanced toxicity, with larval mortality rates of 75% and 84% on the fifth and seventh days, respectively. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values for ethanol extracts were calculated at 6.56% and 54.72%, respectively, while those for nano-silver extracts were markedly lower, at 1.45% and 6.59%, indicating higher potency. Supporting findings by Kasmara et al. ( 2018 ) demonstrated increased larvicidal activity of nano-formulated L. camara compared to crude extracts on third instar S. litura larvae. Furthermore, earlier studies have indicated that silver nanoparticles can induce larval mortality by penetrating the cuticle and causing dehydration and cellular disruption (Stadler et al., 2018 ). The ovicidal potential of both ethanol (3–12%) and nano-silver (50–200 ppm) L. camara extracts was also evaluated. Egg-hatching inhibition at the lowest and highest concentrations ranged from 46.87–98.68% for ethanol and from 54.31–99.92% for nano-silver treatments. Both treatments exhibited significantly greater ovicidal activity than the control group (Table 4 ). Khani et al. (2013) reported inhibition rates of 59% and 58% at the lowest doses of petroleum ether extracts of Piper nigrum and Jatropha curcas , respectively. Similar ovicidal effects were also documented using Allium sativum and Curcuma longa against Tribolium castaneum . In a comparative study, L. camara and Solanum nigrum extracts both inhibited egg hatching, with S. nigrum showing higher efficacy (Elsayed, 2020 ). Additionally, Gülsoy & Yeşilayer ( 2018 ) demonstrated that L. camara extracts inhibited P. operculella egg hatching by 20% more than Salvia spp., a finding reinforced by Yeşilayer & Gülsoy ( 2018 ). Deniz (2019) reported that extracts of Salvia officinalis achieved egg-hatching inhibition rates of 52.5% at 3% and 62.5% at 5%, with Thymus vulgaris and Lavandula officinalis reaching up to 73.75% at 10% concentration. Consistent with larvicidal outcomes, nano-silver L. camara extracts were more effective in inhibiting egg hatching, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 3.96 ppm and 40.96 ppm, respectively (slope = 1.26, χ² = 7.68, heterogeneity = 0.25). Conclusion In the context of integrated pest management (IPM), there is an increasing emphasis on the development of green nanobiotechnological solutions that are both efficient and environmentally benign. Nanotechnology has progressively found applications in agricultural and agronomic practices (Nair & Laurencin, 2007 ; Lee & El-Sayed, 2006; Jain et al., 2008 ). The present study demonstrates the promising insecticidal potential of both ethanol and nano-silver L. camara extracts against the pre-imaginal stages of PTM. As this is the first study to document the pesticidal activity of nano-silver Lantana extract against PTM, further investigations under field and semi-field conditions are warranted to validate its stability and efficacy. Overall, the findings clearly indicate that nano-silver L. camara extracts exert superior larvicidal and ovicidal activities compared to ethanol-based formulations. Therefore, both ethanol and nano-silver L. camara extracts could serve as effective and sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides in the management of PTM and other agricultural pests. Declarations Acknowledgement This manuscript was produced from a master thesis study of EG accepted by TOGU Institute of Science and Technology also. Author Contribution The idea of the study was conceived by AY. AY and EG designed and performed experiments, analysed data and co-wrote the paper. AY and EG verified the analytical methods. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript References Akkemik, Ü. (2014). Türkiye'nin odunsu bitkileri ve her dem yeşil çalıları (Vol. 2). İstanbul Üniversitesi Yayınları . Babu, R., Murugan, K., & Viswanathan, D. (1994). 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Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology , 3 (4), 301–316. https://doi.org/10.1166/jbn.2007.041 Pavela, R. (2011). Insecticidal activity of some essential oils against larvae of Spodoptera littoralis . Phytoparasitica , 39 (3), 301–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2005.06.001. Rouhani, M., Samih, M. A., & Kalantari, S. (2012). Insecticidal effect of silver nanoparticles against Callosobruchus maculatus (F.). Journal of Entomology , 9 (4), 297-305. www.entomologicalresearch.ir Jo. Sharma, P. D., et al. (1992). Lantadenes of Lantana camara as larvicidal agents. Journal of Chemical Ecology , 18 (2), 219–232. Stadler, T., Buteler, M., & Weaver, D. K. (2018). Particulate nanoinsecticides: A new concept in insect pest management. Insecticides- Agrculture and Toxicology , 83-105. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.72448. Yeşilayer, A. & Deniz, M., 2019. Toxic effect of four different plant extracts on potato tuber moth [(Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] eggs and larvae. Turkish Journal of Agriculture -Food Science and Technology,7: 2239-2244 https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v7i12.2239-2244.3008. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Highligts.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7356301","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":499422880,"identity":"747aa41d-b001-420a-a4ba-2bd294be02ca","order_by":0,"name":"AYŞE YEŞİLAYER","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"AYŞE","middleName":"","lastName":"YEŞİLAYER","suffix":""},{"id":499422881,"identity":"4fd083df-bb63-49c6-9037-7c52fb1f049e","order_by":1,"name":"Erhan Gülsoy","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Erhan","middleName":"","lastName":"Gülsoy","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-08-12 13:38:03","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7356301/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7356301/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":88949646,"identity":"a322799a-0bd2-4d77-97ca-777ae19e2a04","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-13 05:39:14","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":92633,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eGreen-synthesized nanoparticles changes (respectively 1, 2, 3) color after mixing of silver nitrate and \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e extract.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7356301/v1/1afdf86c9bea1df331ff6633.png"},{"id":89303152,"identity":"29cef0bd-9f38-4157-acf5-cc710a3d8e98","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-18 14:47:33","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":817461,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7356301/v1/4c142694-e788-4ee3-a546-89feb37afc00.pdf"},{"id":88950350,"identity":"edde0c00-2c35-4c0c-b3bf-be008ea1dbc0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-13 05:47:16","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":12347,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Highligts.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7356301/v1/eab605cbd245979d4b5372ef.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"The Effect of Lantana camara L. extract and Nano-silver extract of Lantana against Potato Tuber Moth [Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)]","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhthorimaea operculella\u003c/em\u003e-Zeller (Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae)-Potato Tuber Moth (PTM) commonly known as the Potato Tuber Moth (PTM), is regarded as one of the most destructive pests affecting potato crops in warm climate regions, leading to substantial economic losses on a global scale. While it infests various host plants within the Solanaceae family, it exhibits a marked preference for potato. The larvae feed on the mesophyll tissue, creating blotch mines within the leaves. Over time, the initially translucent mined areas become necrotic, turning brown and desiccated (Anonymous, 2013; 2020). The larvae occasionally burrow into the petiole and extend their feeding activity into the stem, often penetrating near the buds and excavating shallow galleries beneath the tuber skin. Biopesticides have emerged as effective alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides in the management of a wide range of agricultural pests. These sustainable, biologically derived, and environmentally benign pest control agents offer numerous advantages over conventional pesticides, including improved soil fertility, reduced environmental contamination, and enhanced safety for non-target organisms and human health.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNanotechnological formulations offer a significant advantage in pest management by enabling targeted delivery, enhancing biodegradability, and sustaining effective concentrations over extended periods, thereby minimizing the required chemical dosages (Sabbour, 2013, 2015; Sabbour et al., 2015; Rikta \u0026amp; Rajiv, 2021). \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e, a species native to South America, demonstrates considerable potential as a biopesticidal agent. In Turkey, it is commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant, particularly in the Mediterranean, Marmara, and Aegean regions (Akkemik, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). In addition to its use as an ornamental and medicinal plant, Lantana camara L. has demonstrated insecticidal properties attributed to its phytochemical constituents, particularly the flavonoid compounds Lantaden A and B (Sharma et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e; Babu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1994\u003c/span\u003e; Ghisalberti, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e). Similar to \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e, various other plant extracts have been recognized for their ovicidal, repellent, and insecticidal activities (Isman, 2006; Devi \u0026amp; Devi, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). Beyond botanical formulations, nanotechnology has increasingly been integrated across diverse sectors\u0026mdash;including textiles, food, healthcare, and agriculture\u0026mdash;due to its potential for precision delivery and enhanced efficacy. Recent research has increasingly focused on the integration of metallic nanoparticles\u0026mdash;such as nano-silver and nano-zinc\u0026mdash;with plant-derived extracts for pest control applications. These synergistic formulations have demonstrated promising potential in pest management strategies. Biopesticides developed through green synthesis by combining plant extracts with nanoparticles (NPs) have been effectively utilized for the control of storage pests, including \u003cem\u003eP. operculella\u003c/em\u003e, as well as other agricultural pests. These formulations offer an environmentally sustainable, cost-effective, and non-toxic alternative to conventional chemical pesticides (Duncan, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of nanoparticles in pest control. Pandey et al. (2012) reported a 70% mortality rate in \u003cem\u003eSitophilus oryzae\u003c/em\u003e following nanoparticle exposure. Similarly, Rouhani et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e) observed 83% toxicity of nano-silver treatments against \u003cem\u003eCallosobruchus maculatus\u003c/em\u003e larvae. Furthermore, the nanoparticle-induced inhibition of feeding, oviposition, egg hatching, as well as their repellent and fumigant properties, have also been documented by Muhammed (2013), highlighting the multifaceted pest management potential of nanomaterials.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe current study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal efficacy and egg-hatching inhibition potential of ethanol and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) derived from \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e L. against the immature developmental stages of the Potato Tuber Moth (\u003cem\u003ePhthorimaea operculella\u003c/em\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eExperimental Design and Treatments\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlant Material and Insect Culture\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe immature developmental stages (larvae and eggs) of \u003cem\u003ePhthorimaea operculella\u003c/em\u003e (PTM) were utilized in this study. Potato tubers, serving as a nutritional medium for the insects, were procured from cultivation plots within the research fields of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University. Leaves of \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e L. were collected during\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJune and July from the provinces of Yalova and Mersin. The collected plant material was transported to the Entomology Laboratory, where it was dried under controlled laboratory conditions. Adult male and female specimens of \u003cem\u003eP. operculella\u003c/em\u003e were placed in 1-liter plastic containers, with honey supplied as a nutritional source. The container lids were removed, and sterile blotting paper was positioned over the openings, secured with muslin cloth to permit ventilation while preventing escape. Oviposition by adult females occurred on the sterile paper surface. The \u003cem\u003eP. operculella\u003c/em\u003e culture was maintained under controlled laboratory conditions 23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2\u0026deg;C, 65\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 12:12 h light:dark.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eExtract Preparation and Toxicity of Lantana Plant Extract\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDried Lantana plant material was ground into a fine powder, and 20 grams of the ground sample were extracted with 100 mL of ethanol (w/v). The mixture was agitated on a rotary shaker at 200 rpm for 24 hours. Following extraction, the solution was filtered through sterile filter paper, and the filtrate was allowed to stabilize at room temperature. The resulting stock solution was subsequently diluted with ethanol to obtain the desired concentrations of 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12% (w/mL). Ethanol alone was used as the control treatment (Zamin et al., 2014).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNano-silver-AgNOPs Green Synthesis\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was carried out using a 6% concentration of \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e extract, previously determined to induce over 50% larval mortality in bioefficacy assays. For the synthesis of 1 mM (168 ppm) AgNPs, 0.02 g of commercially sourced silver nitrate (AgNO₃; Nano-Kar) was dissolved in 100 mL of deionized water (w/mL). The Lantana extract was then added to the silver nitrate solution. The mixture was incubated at 30\u0026deg;C for 30 minutes, during which a visible color change from yellow to brown indicated the formation of silver nanoparticles (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e) (Soni \u0026amp; Prakash, 2014). For this synthesized solution, experimental concentrations were prepared: 0 ppm (control), 50 ppm, 100 ppm, 150 ppm and 200 ppm (Saware et al., 2014; Oluwaniyi et al., 2015, Nartop, 2017).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eToxicity Assay on Larvae\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe larvicidal activity of the plant extract was assessed using 3\u0026ndash;4-day-old larvae PTM. Potato tubers of uniform weight were immersed in extract solutions of varying concentrations for 3 to 5 seconds. Subsequently, the treated tubers were air-dried at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes prior to larval exposure (Prijiono \u0026amp; Hassan, 1993). Dried potato tubers were placed into plastic containers measuring 5 cm in height and 11 cm in diameter. 10 larvae were carefully transferred onto each tuber using forceps. The containers were appropriately labeled and covered with transparent tulle to ensure aeration while preventing larval escape (Oroumchi \u0026amp; Lorra, 1993). The number of live and dead larvae was recorded daily, and observations continued until the larvae progressed to pupal and adult stages. The experimental design included five replications including control and was conducted in two independent trials.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the other part of the study; In this assay, the dipping-slide method\u0026mdash;previously employed for ethanol extract treatments\u0026mdash;was utilized to assess the larvicidal effects of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) derived from \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e. A stock solution of AgNPs at 200 ppm (v/v) was prepared and subsequently diluted to achieve the target concentrations for testing (Munir \u0026amp; Muhammad 2005; Moslemi et al.2011; Sallam et al. 2009). The experiments were arranged in four replications, with ten larvae used per replicate. Control groups received no treatment. Larval mortality was recorded daily, and observations continued until the seventh day post-treatment. Each treatment was conducted in twice independent repetitions to ensure statistical robustness.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEgg-Hatching Assay; Inhibition with Lantana Extracts\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe egg-hatching inhibition effect of plant extracts was evaluated using the dipping-slide method. Filter paper segments containing recently laid or one-day-old PTM eggs, previously used as oviposition substrates, were sectioned into groups containing twenty eggs each. These paper segments were briefly immersed in the prepared extract concentrations, air-dried, and subsequently transferred into sterile Petri dishes with a diameter of 90 mm. Each dish was carefully sealed to maintain consistent conditions throughout the experiment (Oroumchi \u0026amp; Lorra, 1993). Each treatment was conducted with fiver replicates, containing twenty eggs per replicate. Observations were carried out daily until the seventh day, at which point the total number of hatched and unhatched eggs was recorded (Kıvan, 2005).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eEgg-Hatching Inhibition Assay; with Nano-Silver Extracts\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo evaluate the egg-hatching inhibition effects of nano-silver extracts derived from Lantana camara, eggs were immersed in extract solutions at concentrations of 0, 100, 150, and 200 ppm. Following treatment, the number of unhatched eggs was observed and recorded. Each treatment consisted of twenty eggs, with assessments carried out under controlled laboratory conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe larvicidal toxicity of \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e ethanol extract against \u003cem\u003eP. operculella\u003c/em\u003e larvae varied significantly over time and across different treatment concentrations. At the lowest concentration, a mortality rate of 14.64% was recorded on the third day, which increased to 36% by the seventh day; this increase was statistically significant (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). After seven days, the highest larvicidal effect was observed on the seventh day, with a mortality rate of 77.69% (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe larvicidal activity of ethanol extracts derived from \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e on \u003cem\u003ePhthorimaea operculella\u003c/em\u003e larvae \u003cem\u003e(mean\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;\u003cem\u003eSE)\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment(%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3th day\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5th day\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7th day\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.20cd\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34.73\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.34d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36,12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.21d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.83\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.01c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.36c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52,37\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.3c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.65\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.57b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52,52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.18b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e63.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.20b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.95a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62.61\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.19a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e77.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.21a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.00d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.00e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.16\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.46e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e*Means indicated with different letters in the same row are significantly different (Tukey test, P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the 5th and 7th days of the experiment, Lantana camara ethanol extracts at concentrations of 6%, 9%, and 12% exhibited larvicidal effects exceeding 50%, with the differences in mean mortality rates found to be statistically significant (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). All tested concentrations of nano-silver extracts demonstrated toxic effects on PTMa larvae, with the highest concentration (12%) showing the greatest efficacy. Mortality rates observed at 6%, 9%, and 12% nano-silver concentrations were 55%, 74%, and 84%, respectively, with statistically significant differences across treatments (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Based on comparative mortality rates, the nano-silver formulations were determined to be more effective than the ethanol-based extracts (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe larvicidal activity of nano-silver extracts of \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e on \u003cem\u003ePhthorimaea operculella\u003c/em\u003e larvae (mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SE)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment (ppm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3th day\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5th day\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7th day\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.79\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,81c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.19c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.89\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.21bc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,25bc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42.37\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.39bc\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.31b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e150\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23,59\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,13b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52.57\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.23b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e70.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.25ab\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e200\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e66.51\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,34a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.32a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e84.89\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.24a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.16\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,46d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.16\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.46d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.16\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.46d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Means indicated with different letters in the same row are significantly different (Tukey test, P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLethal concentration (LC) values were estimated over a seven-day observation period. For the ethanol extract treatments, the LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values against Phthorimaea operculella larvae were calculated as 6.56% and 54.72%, respectively, with a heterogeneity value of 0.35 and a slope of 1.39. In comparison, the nano-silver extract treatments demonstrated higher efficacy, with an LC₅₀ of 1.45% and an LC₉₀ of 6.59%. The associated heterogeneity and slope values were 0.35 and 1.39 for LC₅₀, and 0.36 and 1.95 for LC₉₀, respectively (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe LC\u003csub\u003e50\u003c/sub\u003e and LC\u003csub\u003e90\u003c/sub\u003e values of ethanol and nano-silver extracts treatments\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLC\u003csub\u003e50\u003c/sub\u003e(95%CL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLC\u003csub\u003e90\u003c/sub\u003e(95%CL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSlope\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SE\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHeterogeneity\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.56 (5.04\u0026ndash;8.07)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e54.72(30.02-200.76)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.27\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.49\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Ag-Np\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.45(1.10\u0026ndash;1.74)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.59(4.78\u0026ndash;12.01)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.95\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.89\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.36\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEfficiency of Ethanol and Nano-Silver Extracts of\u003c/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eLantana camara\u003c/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eagainst PTM Eggs\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt a 6% concentration of ethanol extract from Lantana camara, the egg-hatching inhibition rate of Phthorimaea operculella was recorded as 60.69%, while a 100 ppm concentration of nano-silver extract achieved a slightly higher inhibition rate of 68.82%. In the control group, nearly all eggs successfully hatched. The maximum inhibition was observed at the highest concentration of nano-silver extract (200 ppm), reaching 94.95%. In both treatment types, the inhibition rate increased proportionally with concentration, and the differences among the treatment groups were statistically significant (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eToxicity effects of ethanol and nano-silver extracts of \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e on \u003cem\u003ePhthorimaea operculella\u003c/em\u003e eggs (mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SE)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e ethanol extracts\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment (ppm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e nano-silver extracts\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e46.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,05 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e54,39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,06d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e60.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,12c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e68,82\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,08c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e73.82\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,06b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e150\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e80,77\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,10b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e76.51\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,34a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e200\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e94,95\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,80a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,02 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,02 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"4\"\u003e* Means indicated with different letters in the same row are significantly different (Tukey test, P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05)\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEggs that failed to hatch were monitored through the seventh day of the experiment. The lethal concentration (LC) values for the ethanol extracts of Lantana camara were determined as LC₅₀ = 1.71% and LC₉₀ = 20.04%, with a slope of 1.99 and a chi-square (χ\u0026sup2;) value of 10.09. In comparison, nano-silver extracts exhibited higher efficacy, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 3.96 ppm and 40.96 ppm, respectively (slope\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.26, χ\u0026sup2; = 7.68). These findings indicate that the nano-silver formulations were more effective than ethanol extracts in inhibiting egg hatching (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe LC\u003csub\u003e50\u003c/sub\u003e and LC\u003csub\u003e90\u003c/sub\u003e values of ethanol and nano-silver extracts of \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLC\u003csub\u003e50\u003c/sub\u003e(95%CL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLC\u003csub\u003e90\u003c/sub\u003e(95%CL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSlope\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SE\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHeterogeneity\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.71 (1.31\u0026ndash;2.07)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20.04(10.84\u0026ndash;73.50)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.99\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Ag-Np\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.96 (2.80\u0026ndash;4.87)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.96(24.76\u0026ndash;11.33)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.26\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.19\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.68\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study examined the larvicidal and ovicidal effects of ethanol and green-synthesized nano-silver extracts of \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e on the immature stages (eggs and larvae) of PTM. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized via a green method, utilizing \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e extracts as a reducing agent, due to the method\u0026rsquo;s enhanced reliability and environmental compatibility (Mohapatro et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarval mortality began to manifest by the third day across all concentrations of ethanol extracts, with a mortality rate of approximately 53% recorded at a 6% concentration by day seven. Similarly, Kasmara et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) reported mortality rates exceeding 55% in \u003cem\u003eSpodoptera litura\u003c/em\u003e larvae treated with \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e extracts at concentrations ranging from 5\u0026ndash;40%. Pavela (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e), investigating methanol extracts from various plant species against \u003cem\u003eS. littoralis\u003c/em\u003e larvae, found that several\u0026mdash;including \u003cem\u003eFoeniculum vulgare\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eArtemisia campestris\u003c/em\u003e,achieved 100% mortality by the fifth day, while others such as \u003cem\u003eLavandula angustifolia\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eArtemisia absinthium\u003c/em\u003e induced 39% mortality. In our study, the highest ethanol extract concentration resulted in 62.6% larval mortality by day five.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn comparison, the nano-silver (AgNPs) extract of \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e demonstrated enhanced toxicity, with larval mortality rates of 75% and 84% on the fifth and seventh days, respectively. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values for ethanol extracts were calculated at 6.56% and 54.72%, respectively, while those for nano-silver extracts were markedly lower, at 1.45% and 6.59%, indicating higher potency. Supporting findings by Kasmara et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) demonstrated increased larvicidal activity of nano-formulated \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e compared to crude extracts on third instar \u003cem\u003eS. litura\u003c/em\u003e larvae. Furthermore, earlier studies have indicated that silver nanoparticles can induce larval mortality by penetrating the cuticle and causing dehydration and cellular disruption (Stadler et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ovicidal potential of both ethanol (3\u0026ndash;12%) and nano-silver (50\u0026ndash;200 ppm) \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e extracts was also evaluated. Egg-hatching inhibition at the lowest and highest concentrations ranged from 46.87\u0026ndash;98.68% for ethanol and from 54.31\u0026ndash;99.92% for nano-silver treatments. Both treatments exhibited significantly greater ovicidal activity than the control group (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). Khani et al. (2013) reported inhibition rates of 59% and 58% at the lowest doses of petroleum ether extracts of \u003cem\u003ePiper nigrum\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eJatropha curcas\u003c/em\u003e, respectively. Similar ovicidal effects were also documented using \u003cem\u003eAllium sativum\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCurcuma longa\u003c/em\u003e against \u003cem\u003eTribolium castaneum\u003c/em\u003e. In a comparative study, \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSolanum nigrum\u003c/em\u003e extracts both inhibited egg hatching, with \u003cem\u003eS. nigrum\u003c/em\u003e showing higher efficacy (Elsayed, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, G\u0026uuml;lsoy \u0026amp; Yeşilayer (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) demonstrated that \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e extracts inhibited \u003cem\u003eP. operculella\u003c/em\u003e egg hatching by 20% more than Salvia spp., a finding reinforced by Yeşilayer \u0026amp; G\u0026uuml;lsoy (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Deniz (2019) reported that extracts of \u003cem\u003eSalvia officinalis\u003c/em\u003e achieved egg-hatching inhibition rates of 52.5% at 3% and 62.5% at 5%, with \u003cem\u003eThymus vulgaris\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLavandula officinalis\u003c/em\u003e reaching up to 73.75% at 10% concentration. Consistent with larvicidal outcomes, nano-silver \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e extracts were more effective in inhibiting egg hatching, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 3.96 ppm and 40.96 ppm, respectively (slope\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.26, χ\u0026sup2; = 7.68, heterogeneity\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.25).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn the context of integrated pest management (IPM), there is an increasing emphasis on the development of green nanobiotechnological solutions that are both efficient and environmentally benign. Nanotechnology has progressively found applications in agricultural and agronomic practices (Nair \u0026amp; Laurencin, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e; Lee \u0026amp; El-Sayed, 2006; Jain et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). The present study demonstrates the promising insecticidal potential of both ethanol and nano-silver \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e extracts against the pre-imaginal stages of PTM. As this is the first study to document the pesticidal activity of nano-silver Lantana extract against PTM, further investigations under field and semi-field conditions are warranted to validate its stability and efficacy.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOverall, the findings clearly indicate that nano-silver \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e extracts exert superior larvicidal and ovicidal activities compared to ethanol-based formulations. Therefore, both ethanol and nano-silver \u003cem\u003eL. camara\u003c/em\u003e extracts could serve as effective and sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides in the management of PTM and other agricultural pests.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis manuscript was produced from a master thesis study of EG accepted by TOGU Institute of Science and Technology also.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe idea of the study was conceived by AY. AY and EG designed and performed experiments, analysed data and co-wrote the paper. AY and EG verified the analytical methods. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript\u003c/p\u003e\n"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAkkemik, \u0026Uuml;. (2014). T\u0026uuml;rkiye\u0026apos;nin odunsu bitkileri ve her dem yeşil \u0026ccedil;alıları (Vol. 2). \u003cem\u003eİstanbul \u0026Uuml;niversitesi Yayınları\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBabu, R., Murugan, K., \u0026amp; Viswanathan, D. (1994). Effect of lantadenes on the development of \u003cem\u003eSpodoptera litura\u003c/em\u003e (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). \u003cem\u003ePhytoparasitica\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e22\u003c/em\u003e(2), 153\u0026ndash;159 https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.000542.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDevi, K. N., \u0026amp; Devi, I. (2011). Antifeedant and insecticidal activity of plant extracts against \u003cem\u003ePlutella xylostella\u003c/em\u003e L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). \u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e(2), 340\u0026ndash;345.\u003cstrong\u003ehttps://doi.org/\u003c/strong\u003e10.29321/MAJ.10.000542.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDuncan, T. V. (2011). Applications of nanotechnology in food packaging and food safety: Barrier materials, antimicrobials and sensors. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Colloid and Interface Science\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e363\u003c/em\u003e(1), 1\u0026ndash;24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2011.07.017.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElsayed, G. (2020). Bioassay of \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSolanum nigrum\u003c/em\u003e extracts on Potato Tuber Moth \u003cem\u003ePhthorimaea operculella \u003c/em\u003e(Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), \u003cem\u003eAfrican Entomology, 28\u003c/em\u003e, 55. doi:10.4001/003.028.0055\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGhisalberti, E. L. (2000). \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e L. (Verbenaceae). \u003cem\u003eFitoterapia\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e71\u003c/em\u003e(5), 467\u0026ndash;486. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(00)00202-1.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eG\u0026uuml;lsoy, E., \u0026amp; Yeşilayer, N. (2018). Insecticidal effects of \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSalvia officinalis\u003c/em\u003e on \u003cem\u003ePhthorimaea operculella\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eVan Ulusal Tarım Kongresi\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJain, K. K., et al. (2008). Nanotechnology in clinical laboratory diagnostics. \u003cem\u003eClinica Chimica Acta\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e358\u003c/em\u003e(1-2), 37\u0026ndash;54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cccn.2005.03.014.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKasmara, I., Supriyadi, S., \u0026amp; Yuniarti, T. (2018). Evaluation of \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e extracts and nanoformulations against \u003cem\u003eSpodoptera litura\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eIOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e102\u003c/em\u003e, 012010.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMohapatro, S., Mishra, S., \u0026amp; Das, M. (2015). Green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e leaf extract. \u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Research in Biosciences\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e4\u003c/em\u003e(2), 47\u0026ndash;55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2015.01.035.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNair, L. S., \u0026amp; Laurencin, C. T. (2007). Silver nanoparticles: synthesis and therapeutic applications. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Biomedical Nanotechnology\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e3\u003c/em\u003e(4), 301\u0026ndash;316. https://doi.org/10.1166/jbn.2007.041\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePavela, R. (2011). Insecticidal activity of some essential oils against larvae of \u003cem\u003eSpodoptera littoralis\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003ePhytoparasitica\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e39\u003c/em\u003e(3), 301\u0026ndash;306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2005.06.001.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRouhani, M., Samih, M. A., \u0026amp; Kalantari, S. (2012). Insecticidal effect of silver nanoparticles against \u003cem\u003eCallosobruchus maculatus\u003c/em\u003e (F.). \u003cem\u003eJournal of Entomology\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e9\u003c/em\u003e(4), 297-305. www.entomologicalresearch.ir Jo.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSharma, P. D., et al. (1992). Lantadenes of \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e as larvicidal agents. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Chemical Ecology\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e18\u003c/em\u003e(2), 219\u0026ndash;232.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStadler, T., Buteler, M., \u0026amp; Weaver, D. K. (2018). Particulate nanoinsecticides: A new concept in insect pest management. \u003cem\u003eInsecticides- Agrculture and Toxicology\u003c/em\u003e, 83-105. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.72448.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYeşilayer, A. \u0026amp; Deniz, M., 2019. Toxic effect of four different plant extracts on potato tuber moth [(Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] eggs and larvae. Turkish Journal of Agriculture -Food Science and Technology,7: 2239-2244 https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v7i12.2239-2244.3008.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Phthorimaea operculella, Lantana camara, biopesticides, nano-silver (AgNPs), Türkiye","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7356301/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7356301/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe widespread use of chemical pesticides has resulted in significant ecological disturbances and adverse effects on non-target organisms globally. In response, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising component of environmentally sustainable pest management strategies, fostering the development of innovative, natural, and safe biopesticides. This study investigates the insecticidal efficacy of ethanol and nano-silver extracts derived from the medicinal plant \u003cem\u003eLantana camara\u003c/em\u003e L. against the eggs and larvae of the Potato Tuber Moth (\u003cem\u003ePhthorimaea operculella\u003c/em\u003e [Zeller]), a critical quarantine pest threatening potato production in Turkey. \u003cem\u003eThe toxicological effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) extracts derived from L. camara were assessed based on the lethal concentration required to achieve 50% mortality (LC₅₀) in third instar larvae and 1-day-old eggs of P. operculella. The LC50\u0026ndash;LC90 range was established as 6.56\u0026ndash;54.72 for ethanol-based extracts and 1.45\u0026ndash;6.59 for AgNp-based extracts. Maximum egg-hatching inhibition was recorded at a 12% ethanol extract concentration (76.5%) and 200 ppm AgNPs treatment (94.9%). The bioassay results indicated that silver nanoparticles formulations of L. camara were significantly more effective than ethanol extracts in controlling both larvae and eggs of the Potato Tuber Moth. Furthermore, treated potato tubers exhibited a marked reduction in adult moth emergence compared to the untreated control\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The Effect of Lantana camara L. extract and Nano-silver extract of Lantana against Potato Tuber Moth [Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)]","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-08-13 05:38:31","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7356301/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"62b96956-2b3c-463b-9bbc-d628dfa68af1","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 13th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-08-18T14:39:19+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-13 05:38:31","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7356301","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7356301","identity":"rs-7356301","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}