Journal of Biopesticides (2008) 1, 170-176

Peta Devanand and Pathipati Usha Rani (2008)
Biological potency of certain plant extracts in management of two lepidopteran pests of Ricinus communis L.
Journal of Biopesticides 1 (2), 170-176
Abstract: Antifeedant and toxic effects of leaf extracts of Syzygium cumini L., Ocimum basilicum L., Luffa aegyptica Mill., Eichhornia crassipes Mart., Tamarindus indica L., Terminalia catappa L., Limonia acidissima L., Murraya koenigii L., Breynia retusa (Dennst.)., Jatropha curcas L., Tectona grandis L., Momordica charantia L., Mangifera indica L., Ricinus communis L., and the seed extract of Madhuca indica Gmelin., were evaluated in the laboratory and the results were reported. The crude acetone extracts were tested against the third instar larvae of two lepidopteran pests i.e. the tobacco cut worm, Spodoptera litura Fab. and the castor semilooper, Achaea janata L. (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera). Antifeedant activity of the extracts was assessed through leaf disc choice tests. The leaf extracts of M. charantia, T. grandis, M. indica and T. indica exhibited strong antifeedant activity (> 85%) in leaf disc bioassays at a dosage of 100-mg/ 21cm². Test extracts of T. grandis, M. indica and M. charantia produced higher toxicity (> 80%) to S. litura and A. janata at 20-100 mg/21 cm²/ larva doses were applied, and LD50 values of (47.85- 72.60 mg/21 cm²). The acetone extracts of M. charantia, T. grandis and M. indica were found to exhibit both feeding deterrent and toxic activities. The other plants which were tested had moderate effects towards these pests. Based on their feeding deterrent and toxic properties, some of these plant extracts have potential for use as alternative crop protectants against certain pest species.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Spodoptera litura
	Achaea janata