Bio-efficacy of fruit extracts against gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in chickpea

Abstract

Studies were conducted to evaluate the aqueous extracts of different plant fruits @5% viz. chinaberry, Karanj, Jatropha, Datura, golden shower, Babool and algaroba and indoxacarb 14.5 SC during rabi crop seasons 2016-17 and 2017-18 for their efficacy against H. armigera in chickpea. All the fruit extracts were found effective in reducing the larval population of target pest (3.17 to 5.06 larvae/plants). However, the least (1.95) and highest (11.78) larval population were recorded in insecticide and untreated control plots, respectively. Apart from reducing the H. armigera larval population plant leaf extracts were also proved safer to its natural enemy, Campoletis chlorideae (1.51 to 1.92 cocoons/10 plants) than insecticide, indoxacarb (0.42 cocoons/10 plants). Reduced larval populations of H. armigera in plots treated with leaf extracts were reflected in their resultant parallel action of significantly lower pod damage (14.75 to 22.34 %) than untreated control (38.70 %). Subsequently, the impact of reduced pod damage by H. armigera larvae was observed in a proportionate increase in grain yield of chickpea (9.21 to 12.29 q/ha), significantly higher than untreated control (5.51 q/ha).