Novel compounds ZK-PI-5 and ZK-PI-9 regulate the reproduction of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with insecticide potential

Trehalase inhibitors prevent trehalase from breaking down trehalose to provide energy. Chitinase inhibitors inhibit chitinase activity affecting insect growth and development. This is an important tool for the investigation of regulation of trehalose metabolism and chitin metabolism in insect reproduction. There are few studies on trehalase or chitinase inhibitors' regulation of insect reproduction. In this study, ZK-PI-5 and ZK-PI-9 were shown to have a significant inhibitory effect on the trehalase, and ZK-PI-9 significantly inhibited chitinase activity in female pupae. We investigated the reproduction regulation of Spodoptera frugiperda using these new inhibitors and evaluated their potential as new insecticides. Compounds ZK-PI-5 and ZK-PI-9 were injected into the female pupae, and the control group was injected with solvent (2% DMSO). The results showed that the emergence failure rate for pupae treated with inhibitors increased dramatically and aberrant phenotypes such as difficulty in wings spreading occurred. The oviposition period and longevity of female adults in the treated group were significantly shorter than those in the control group, and the ovaries developed more slowly and shrank earlier. The egg hatching rate was significantly reduced by treatment with the inhibitor. These results showed that the two new compounds had a significant impact on the physiological indicators related to reproduction of S. frugiperda, and have pest control potential. This study investigated the effect of trehalase and chitin inhibitors on insect reproduction and should promote the development of green and efficient insecticides.