BIOINFOLET - A Quarterly Journal of Life Sciences

Web of Science
  • Year: 2012
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue: 4b

Bio-efficacy of plant extracts on growth, development and survival of tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura (Fab.)) larvae

  • Author:
  • Yogesh Kumar, Neha Pandey, Shiwani Bhatnagar
  • Total Page Count: 3
  • DOI:
  • Page Number: 667 to 669

Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263 145 (U. S. Nagar, Uttarakhand)

* Forest Protection Division Arid Forest Research Institute, New Pali Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan;

Abstract

Four medicinal plants viz., Syzygium cumuni, Artemisia annua, Jatropha curcas and Cnicus benedictus were studied for their effect on growth, development and survival of 6 day old larvae of tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura. Plant extracts of J. curcas (2%) and C. benedictus (1 and 2%) proved to be effective in reducing larval weight gain after 2 days of feeding, however, the effect was statistically non-significant. They caused significantly higher mortality of the larvae, reduction in pupal weight and pupation over control. Maximum larval mortality was recorded in C. benedictus (16.6%) followed by J. curcas (13.3%) at 2% concentration. Minimum pupal weight (0.18 and 0.17g) and percent pupation (70 and 43.3%) was observed in J. curcas and C. benedictus respectively, at 2% concentration. These data clearly indicates their significant impact on survival and developmental aspects of S. litura. It can thus be concluded that C. benedictus and J. curcas were most effective against S. litura.

Keywords

Spodoptera litura, Medicinal plants, Growth, Development