Earias vittella management by utilizing obnoxious weeds extracts of Jammu and Kashmir Himalayas, India

Abstract

All the three agro-ecological zones (sub-tropical, intermediate and temperate) of the Jammu province were surveyed for potential pesticidal plants. Methanol extracts of all the thirteen plants / plant parts and fractions were assessed for insecticidal activity. Eight treatments (T3 –Boerhavia diffusa stem methanolic extract, T6 –Boerhavia diffusa roots methanolic extract, T7 –Boerhavia diffusa roots hexane fraction, T12 –Arisaema flavum stem + leaves methanol extract, T13 –Arisaema flavum stem + leaves hexane fraction, T14 –Arisaema flavum stem + leaves acetone fraction, T15 –Arisaema flavum roots / tubers methanol extract and T17 –Arisaema flavum roots / tubers acetone fraction) recorded cent percent mortality of first instar larvae, within four hours. All the extracts / fractions evaluated against Earias vitella exhibited contact toxicity, and ovicidal action. The growth indices were also affected. Few extracts / fractions were so toxic that they exhibited 100% control. When larvae were fed on extract / fraction treated food for growth indices studies, in many cases larvae died. These extracts/ fractions have great potential to be developed as botanical pesticide. Active pesticidal compounds from few promising plants may be extracted and further studied for their pesticidal activity. The present studies suggest that the plant extract may be fractionated for better results.