Insecticidal properties of water diffusible prodigiosin produced by Serratia nematodiphila 213C

Water diffusible pigment producing rhizospheric bacteria was isolated and identified as Serratia nematodiphila 213C through phenotypic characters, FAME and 16S rDNA analysis. In glycerol - peptone media at 28°C, 72 h and 180 rpm; dark red colored pigment was biosynthesized, which showed UV – Visible absorbance at λ₅₃₅ and Rf of 0.9 on TLC (10 M ethyl acetate: methanol- 6:4), suggesting close similarity toward prodigiosin type of pigment. Insecticidal performance of isolated pigment on Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura showed 70 and 100% larval mortality at 20 and 30 mgml⁻¹ concentrations.