Biopotential of Fleuggea leucopyrus (Koen.) Willd. against Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

In the past five decades, agricultural pests are controlled by synthetic pesticides which caused ill effects on non-target organisms and environment; also insect pests developed resistance and minor pests became major pests. By keeping this in mind, the present study was selected. Antifeedant and larvicidal activities and growth inhibitory effects of hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate leaf extracts of Fleuggea leucopyrus (Koen.) Willd. against Helicoverpa armigera (Hbn.) were studied. Antifeedant and larvicidal activities were evaluated at 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5% concentrations at laboratory conditions. Hexane and chloroform extracts at 5% concentration recorded significant antifeedant activity of 82.41 and 74.45%, respectively. Hexane extract recorded the least LC50 and LC90 values of 1.37 and 4.80%, respectively. Hexane extract recorded maximum larvicidal activity of 85.78% with LC50 and LC90 values of 1.69 and 4.94%, respectively. Ethyl acetate extract also had notable amount of larvicidal activity of 81.77% at 5% concentration. Hexane extract at 5 and 2.5% and ethyl acetate extract at 5% concentrations completely prevented the adult emergence of H. armigera. This plant could be further exploited to identify the active principle(s) responsible for the activities and to develop a novel pesticidal formulation. This is the first report of F. leucopyrus is studied for its bioefficacy against H. armigera.