Efficacy of natural products and biorationals against two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari : Tetranychidae) infesting brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under protected cultivation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Phytophagous pest mites, especially the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, causes significant yield losses in brinjal raised under protected conditions. Presently, the emphasis is on development of eco-friendly pest management approaches as an alternative to chemicals. The efficacy of different bio-rationals and natural products was investigated against T. urticae infesting brinjal in nethouse conditions in 2019. The natural products were prepared indigenously and applied twice, at weekly intervals. Application of pepper extract at 30 ml/l followed by neemastra and brahmastra at 50 ml/l caused the highest percent reduction in mite population (>76 and up to 90%, respectively). PAU neem extract at 12 ml/l was highly effective in reducing the mite population by 74.61% as compared to Pongamia extract and Dherek extract both . The anthocorid bug, Blaptostethus pallescens, at 10 nymphs/plant and the chrysopid, Chryosperla zastrowi sillemi, at 3 third instars/plant reduced mite population by 82–84%, respectively, after two releases at weekly intervals, while the phytoseiid mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus, reduced the mite population by up to 87% at a 1:40 predator to prey ratio. All predators were equally effective in reducing the mite population. Results indicated that these natural products and biorationals can be incorporated in integrated mite management programmes in brinjal under protected conditions.