Histofisiologia do canal alimentar e hemócitos de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) tratadas com Nim (Azadirachta indica A.Juss)

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the main pest of corn crops. The control of S. frugiperda requires various insecticide applications that might result on selection of resistant populations and environmental contamination. A promising alternative toward the control of this pest is the use of vegetal insecticides such as neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae). Few data exist related to the immunologic and histophysiologic reactions of S. frugiperda larvae under neem treatment. Thus, the present research had as objectives: (a) to characterize and to quantify the hemocytes of S. frugiperda larvae pre- and post-treatment with concentrations 0.5 and 1.0% of neem (Neemseto®) on the intervals of 48, 96, 144, 192 and 240h; (b) to describe, histologically, the food channel of the larvae; (c) to characterize the effect of the concentrations 0.5 and 1.0% of neem, in the same evaluation intervals after treatment, on the histophysiology of midgut; (d) to quantify the regenerative cells and; (e) to analyze,histochemically, the secretion product of midgut. Six types of hemocytes were identified in the hemolymph of S. frugiperda larvae: Adipohemocytes, Spherulocytes, Granulocytes, Eonocytoids, Plasmatocytes and Prohemocytes. And, the most abundant hemocytes were Granulocytes and Plasmatocytes. The counting of hemocytes showed effects as function of neem concentrations onthe hemocytary dynamics and possivelmente the endocrine events, contributing for mortality and observed morphologic abnormalities. Despite of expressive larval mortality and of effects with neem at concentration 1.0%, both concentrations (0.5 and 1.0%) modified the cellular immunity of the larvae. Histophysiological alterations occurred as function of tested neem concentrations and time after treatment observed as: degeneration of the epithelium and musculature of the midgut, reduction of regenerative cells and the secretory activity of this region, in the two concentrations of neem. These alterations, however, were observed for larvae treated with neem at concentration 1.0% already from 96h after treatment. These results demonstrate the insecticide activity of the commercial formulation neem (Neemseto®) in both tested concentrations, on thehistophysiology of midgut and on the immunologic reactions of S. frugiperda larvae.