Antifeedant, toxic and biochemical effects of sweet flag, Acorus calamus against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linn) (Plutellidae: Lepidoptera)

Abstract

The present research work was carried at College of Horticulture, Dr. YSRHU, Venkataramannagudem. Hexane, methanol and aqueous extracts of Acorus calamus were tested against third instar larvae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella through leafdip method to assess the toxic and biochemical effects. AI50 values for hexane, methanol and aqueous extract were 0.022, 0.019 and 0.030%, respectively. Methanol extract was reported to show 100.00 per cent mortality with LC50 value of 0.019% at 5.0% concentration followed by hexane (LC50 =0.027%) and aqueous extracts (LC50 = 0.033%) at the same concentration. Total protein and carbohydrate content was highly reduced to 32.30 mg/g and 47.63% in the methanol extract of A. calamus at 5.0% concentration.