Kumar, H.Sagar, D.Keerthi, M.C.Sharma, M.Singh, S.Subramanian, S.2025-05-122025-05-122024-12Kumar H., Sagar D., Keerthi M.C., Sharma M., Singh S., Subramanian S. . Impact of different natural hosts and meridic diet on fatty acid profiling of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) vis-à-vis reproductive physiology. Journal of Environmental Biology. 2024 Dec; 45(6): 714-7220254-87042394-0379https://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/247546Aim: This study was undertaken to document the influence of natural hosts and meridic diet on fatty acid profiling vis-a-vis reproductive physiology of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius). Methodology: S. litura were larvae fed on various hosts (castor, cauliflower, cabbage and tomato) and meridic diet. After emergence, the adults were frozen in liquid nitrogen. Fatty acid analysis was conducted by Fatty Acid Methyl Esters through gas chromatography (MIDI Sherlock, 2006). Results: One-way ANOVA and Principal component analysis (PCA) of fatty acid biomarkers from emerged adults showed that the insects reared on meridic diet had the highest percent of linoleic acid (18:2) and oleic acid (18:1) fatty acids, which are mainly responsible for insect reproduction. Interestingly, reproduction related fatty acids were distributed proportionally in case of adults emerged from meridic diet fed larvae. Interpretation: Fatty acid profile can be used as a surrogate marker to assess the reproductive fitness of insects. The study also concluded that the meridic diet would be an alternate choice in the absence of natural hosts for mass rearing of S. litura throughout the year.Fatty acidMeridic dietOleicacidPrincipal component analysisSpodoptera lituraImpact of different natural hosts and meridic diet on fatty acid profiling of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) vis-à-vis reproductive physiologyJournal ArticleIndiaDivision of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, IndiaDivision of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India; Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru-560 024, IndiaDivision of Entomology and Nematology, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, 560 089, IndiaDivision of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, IndiaDivision of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, IndiaDivision of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India