Efficacy of botanical extracts and panchagavya against bhendi shoot and fruit borer, Earias vittella (Fab.)

Abstract

Shoot and fruit borer, Earias vittella (Fab.) is commonly encountered and economically important insect pest on okra (bhendi). Experiments were carried out to investigate the antifeedent and mortality activities of panchagavya alone and in combination with plant extracts against E. vittella in the laboratory and to evaluate the effectiveness in the field during rabi and kharif 2017 at C. Mutlur, Chidambaram. This study assessed five binary botanical extracts mixture with panchagavya used in vitro which included extracts containing panchagavya, neem leaf extract (NLE) 5%, Prosophis leaf extract 5%, Calotropis leaf extract 5%, Pungam oil 3% and NSKE 5%. Fruit disc no-choice methods were performed in a laboratory using bhendi fruit to determine the antifeedant activity and per cent mortality. Results indicated that all binary mixtures showed antifeedant activity and highest recorded was in NLE (5%) + panchagavya (3%) (65.11%) and was on par with NSKE (5%) (64.84%) and the highest mortality was recorded in panchagavya (3%) + NSKE (5%) (83.33%) followed by pungam oil 3% + panchagavya 3% (66.67%) and NLE 5% + panchagavya 3% (53.33%). Field studies indicated that highest per cent reduction of E. vittella was recorded in panchagavya (3%) + Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) (5%) treated plot followed by pungam oil 3% + panchagavya 3% and Neem Leaf Extract (NLE) 5% + panchagavya 3%. The field studies demonstrated that NSKE 5% in combination with panchagavya were effective in the management of E. vittella and could be an efective alternative to synthetic pesticides.