Biochemical analyses of action of chlorfluazuron in Spodoptera litura

Sublethal doses of chlorfluazuron (LD10 or LD30) topically applied at newly-ecdysed fifth-instars of Spodoptera litura significantly reduced the protein, DNA, RNA and ecdysteroid titre in ovaries during development of female, which resulted in reduction of ovarian weight, length of ovarioles, thickness of follicular epithelium, number of mature ova, cell density and size of basal oÖcytes. Sublethal doses also significantly reduced the protein, carbohydrate, lipid, DNA, RNA and ecdysteroid titre during development of male, by effecting size and weight of testis, thickness of testis sheath, size and number of eupyrene and apyrene sperm bundles. Sublethal doses also effects insemination by reducing spermataphore weight, number of inseminated sperm. Sublethal doses also significantly reduced the protein, carbohydrate, lipid, DNA, RNA and ecdysteroid titre during embryogenesis. However, patterns of reduction in protein, carbohydrate, lipid, DNA, RNA contents and ecdysteroid titre were the same in all tests. Finally, collective effects of all parameters have been resulted reduction in the fecundity, fertility and hatchability of S.litura.