Abstract
Wheat being staple food of Pakistan is constantly attacked by major wheat aphid species, Schizaphis graminum (R.), Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and Sitobion avenae (F.). Due to concern on synthetic chemical use in wheat, it is imperative to search for alternative environment- and human- friendly control measures such as botanical pesticides. In the present study, we evaluated the comparative role of neem seed extract (NSE), moringa leaf extract (MLE) and imidacloprid (I) in the management of the aphid as well as the yield losses parameters in late planted wheat fields. Imidacloprid reduced significantly aphids infestation compared to the other treatments, hence resulting in higher yield, particularly when applied with MLE. The percentages of yield increase in I+MLE treated plots over the control were 19.15–81.89% for grains per spike, 5.33–37.62% for thousand grain weight and 27.59–61.12% for yield kg/ha. NSE was the second most effective control measure in suppressing aphid population, but the yield protected by NSE treatment over the control was comparable to that by imidacloprid. Population densities of coccinellids and syrphids in the plots treated with NSE-2 were higher than those treated with imidacloprid in two out of three experiments during 2013–14. Low predator density in imidacloprid-treated plots was attributed to the lower availability of prey aphids. The efficacy of NSE against aphids varied depending on degree of synchronization among the application timing, the activity of aphids, crop variety and environmental conditions. Despite that, we suggested NSE to be a promising alternative botanical insecticide compared to the most commonly recommended imidiacloprid. Further studies should consider the side effects of biopesticides on non-target organisms in order to provide better management practices in the field.
Highlights
Over the decades, pesticides have been widely applied as a standard practice to control agricultural pests in the field [1, 2]
The objectives of present study were to assess the effect of sowing time on aphid abundance and to evaluate the comparative effects of neem seed extract (NSE), moringa leaf extract (MLE) and imidacloprid on the management of wheat aphids, their arthropod natural enemies and wheat yield parameters
During the 2013 season, insect guild in the control plot consisted of wheat aphids (S. graminum, R. padi and S. avenae) and natural enemy assemblages including coccinellids, mainly Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus and Coccinella undecimpunctata Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), syrphids, mainly Ischiodon scutellaris (Fabricius) (Diptera: Syrphidae), spiders, mainly Oxyopes javanus Thorell (Araneae: Oxyopidae) and Pardosa birmanica Simon (Araneae: lycosidae) and aphid parasitoids, mainly emerged primary parasitoids were Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) (Table 1)
Summary
Pesticides have been widely applied as a standard practice to control agricultural pests in the field [1, 2]. Botanical insecticides, being cheap, effective, safe, easy to process and to apply, can represent the best option in developing countries for farmers in the insect pest management [13, 14]. Wheat aphids management by alternative botanical insecticides reported its effective use in managing different insect pests [48,49,50]. Akhtar et al [54] reported that plant species of the family Meliaceae such as Azadirachta indica, A. excelsa, Trichilia americana and Melia volkensii are rich sources of active botanical insecticides. Their level of activity, based upon growth inhibition, chronic toxicity, and antifeedant activity, can be compared favorably to some of the commercialized botanical products. The objectives of present study were to assess the effect of sowing time on aphid abundance and to evaluate the comparative effects of neem seed extract (NSE), moringa leaf extract (MLE) and imidacloprid on the management of wheat aphids, their arthropod natural enemies and wheat yield parameters
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