Sclerotium rolfsii lectin exerts insecticidal activity on Spodoptera litura larvae by binding to membrane proteins of midgut epithelial cells and triggering caspase-3-dependent apoptosis.

The insect pest Spodoptera litura is considered a major threat to many economically important food and commercial crops. The present study establishes the toxic effects of Sclerotium rolfsii lectin (SRL) against S. litura larvae fed an artificial diet containing the purified lectin.