Efficacy of plant and aboriginal preparations against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Abstract

Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus.) is a key pest on Brassicaceae crops causing severe yield loss worldwide. Its regular incidence often incited the farmers to spray insecticides. Despite of such efforts, growers are unable to control the damage. Due to ineffectiveness of insecticides, impelled the growers in India towards organic farming. Present study was designed to study the efficacy of plant and indigenous preparations against P. xylostella,as an alternative to insecticides. Among the extracts tested, panchagavya, cow urine, dasagavya, chilli + garlic extract were exhibited repellent and antifeedant activity, but, were less effective in causing larval mortality. Extracts of neem fruit + red chilli + custard apple leaves and neem seed kernel + Vitex negundo L. + Aloe vera Mill. + Calotropis gigantean Ait.+ Clerodendron inerme (Linnaeus) Gaertn were more detrimental to the P. xylostella larvae. These extracts caused not only repellent, antifeedant activity and larval mortality but also morphogenic deformities.