Abstract
Collard greens are commonly grown in family farming systems; however, damage caused by the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) reduces yields, leading to successive applications of insecticides and consequently, environmental and toxicological problems. Therefore, it is essential to search for alternatives that reduce the use of pesticides and are economically viable and accessible to small farmers. This study was aimed at evaluating the insecticidal activity of aqueous extracts of neem and tobacco on P. xylostella. First instar caterpillars were offered collard leaf discs treated with different concentrations (30 caterpillars per treatment) and after the third day, mortality was evaluated. To evaluate ovicidal properties, collard leaves with 30 eggs were immersed in extracts and after 48 h, viability was measured. Oviposition deterrent activity was assessed with 23 couples of P. xylostella released in cages (repetitions) containing treated collard plants and after 48 h, the number of eggs per plant was recorded. Neem and tobacco extracts exhibited larvicidal, ovicidal, and oviposition deterrent properties against P. xylostella, indicating that the use of these extracts may be promising alternatives in family farming systems.
Highlights
In Brazil, the consumption of collards (Brassica oleracea var. acephala (L.)) has gradually increased because of its high content of vitamins and minerals, important for human nutrition (Faria, Arruda, Araújo, & Penteado, 2017)
The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) (Kianpour, Fathipour, Karimzadeh, & Hosseininaveh, 2014) is considered a key pest due to the direct damage it causes to the commercial product
Given the relevance of the diamondback moth and the need to consume healthier foods, this study was aimed at evaluating the insecticidal potential of aqueous extracts of neem (A. indica) and tobacco (N. tabacum) as alternatives for the control of this pest in family farming
Summary
In Brazil, the consumption of collards (Brassica oleracea var. acephala (L.)) has gradually increased because of its high content of vitamins and minerals, important for human nutrition (Faria, Arruda, Araújo, & Penteado, 2017). The annual production of collards, is adversely affected by phytosanitary issues, mainly pest insects that are difficult to control and may cause severe damage to plants Among these insects, the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) (Kianpour, Fathipour, Karimzadeh, & Hosseininaveh, 2014) is considered a key pest due to the direct damage it causes to the commercial product. The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) (Kianpour, Fathipour, Karimzadeh, & Hosseininaveh, 2014) is considered a key pest due to the direct damage it causes to the commercial product It feeds on the leaf epidermis, reducing the photosynthetic area of the plant and yields, in addition to depreciating the product for commercialization
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