Insecticidal Efficacy of Certain Plant Extracts against the Larvae of Brinjal Stem and Fruit Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee (Lepidoptera; Crambidae)

Abstract

This is an Open Access Journal / article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. All rights reserved. Farmers rely mostly on synthetic pesticides to control vegetable pests. Synthetic pesticides affect our health and enter into water bodies and other environmental compartments, adversely affecting biodiversity. Hence, finding suitable alternatives to these synthetic pesticides is the need of the hour. In the present study, the pesticidal properties of the crude aqueous extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus, Murraya paniculata, and Acacia arabica were tested against the fourth instar larvae of the brinjal stem and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis. The plant extracts were tested at 400, 200, 100, 50, and 25 PPM concentrations. The results showed concentration-dependent larvicidal activity. M. paniculata extracts performed better than the remaining two extracts with 100% mortality at 400 PPM concentration. LC50 & LC90 values of M. paniculata extracts were calculated to be 38.23 & 242.39 respectively. P. hysterophorus and A. arabica also exhibited promising results with 86.96 % & 78.26 % larvicidal activity respectively at the same concentration. LC50 & LC90 values of these two plant extracts were calculated to be 59.59 & 546.59 and 86.08 & 891.39 respectively. The study concludes that the tested M. paniculata plant extracts may be used as an alternative to synthetic pesticides in the control of L. orbonalis. ABSTRACT RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Indian Journal of Natural Sciences www.tnsroindia.org.in ©IJONS
Vol.14 / Issue 78 / June / 2023 International Bimonthly (Print) – Open Access ISSN: 0976 – 0997
56169
Yashoda
Insecticidal Efficacy of Certain Plant Extracts against the Larvae of Brinjal Stem
and Fruit Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee (Lepidoptera; Crambidae)
M. Madhavi1, B. Srikanth2, L. Mahesh3*, S. Guruswamy2, L Mayookha4,
1Professor and HoD, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
2Research Scholar, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
3Assistant Professor of Zoology, Tara Govt. College, Sangareddy, Telangana, India
4Department of Zoology, Kasturba Gandhi Degree and PG College for Women, Secunderabad,
Telangana, India.
Received: 19 Feb 2023 Revised: 25 Mar 2023 Accepted: 02 May 2023
*Address for Correspondence
L. Mahesh
Assistant Professor of Zoology,
Tara Govt. College, Sangareddy,
Telangana, India.
E. Mail: maheshlingakari@gmail.com
This is an Open Access Journal / article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
(CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
original work is properly cited. All rights reserved.
Farmers rely mostly on synthetic pesticides to control vegetable pests. Synthetic pesticides affect our
health and enter into water bodies and other environmental compartments, adversely affecting
biodiversity. Hence, finding suitable alternatives to these synthetic pesticides is the need of the hour. In
the present study, the pesticidal properties of the crude aqueous extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus,
Murraya paniculata, and Acacia arabica were tested against the fourth instar larvae of the brinjal stem and
fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis. The plant extracts were tested at 400, 200, 100, 50, and 25 PPM
concentrations. The results showed concentration-dependent larvicidal activity. M. paniculata extracts
performed better than the remaining two extracts with 100% mortality at 400 PPM concentration. LC50 &
LC90 values of M. paniculata extracts were calculated to be 38.23 & 242.39 respectively. P. hysterophorus
and A. arabica also exhibited promising results with 86.96 % & 78.26 % larvicidal activity respectively at
the same concentration. LC50 & LC90 values of these two plant extracts were calculated to be 59.59 &
546.59 and 86.08 & 891.39 respectively. The study concludes that the tested M. paniculata plant extracts
may be used as an alternative to synthetic pesticides in the control of L. orbonalis.
Keywords: Synthetic pesticides, Water pollution, Biopesticides, Sustainable development.
ABSTRACT
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Indian Journal of Natural Sciences www.tnsroindia.org.in ©IJONS
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INTRODUCTION
Eggplant or brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), is native to India and is a popular and economically important vegetable
in Asia [1,2,3]. Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee)is one of the major insect pests of egg plant
in the Indian subcontinent [4].The larvae of L. orbanodes, reduce plant growth and reduces the number and size of
fruits [5]. The feeding tunnels made by the larvae make the fruit unfit for marketing [3]. 37-63% damage was
reported in eggplant crops in different states in India [6]. Pesticides are important tools in controlling insect pests of
agricultural and health importance [7]. Chlorpyriphos 50% EC and Cypermethrin 5% EC are the most commonly
used synthetic pesticides to control this pest. The indiscriminate and improper use of insecticides can lead to a
multitude of problems, including the loss of their effectiveness [3], the development of insect resistance, pollution,
and health hazards [8].The presence of residual pesticides in brinjal also poses a threat to vegetable exports in foreign
markets [9]. It is imperative to adopt an environmentally friendly management approach to address these issues. To
manage insect pests, non-chemical methods such as biopesticides, botanicals, clean cultivation, and mechanical
control, such as handpicking and destroying infected plant parts, are commonly used [10].
The use of plant extracts for controlling pests in agriculture has been gaining popularity in recent years due to
growing concerns about the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides on the environment and human health [11].
Plant extracts contain natural compounds that can repel or kill pests, making them a promising alternative to
conventional pest control methods. Several plant extracts have been found to be effective against the brinjal shoot
and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis), a common pest of eggplant crops. Neem leaf and seed extracts (Azadirachta
indica) [12], marigold flower extracts (Tagetes erecta) [13], and papaya leaf extracts (Carica papaya) [14] have been
found to reduce the number of eggs laid and increased the mortality of larvae and pupae, resulting in reduced
damage to eggplant crops. In order to address these issues, the present study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal efficacy
of crude aqueous extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus, Murraya paniculata, and Acacia arabica against L. orbonalis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Collection of Plant Material
The fresh leaves of Parthenium hysterophorus, Murraya paniculata, and Acacia arabica were collected from the
Zaheerabad region of Sangareddy District, Telangana State. They were washed and dried for 15 days. Later they
were powdered using a grinder and stored in a sealed bag until use.
Extract Preparation
50 grams of the prepared leaf powders of the test plants were added to 250 mL of distilled water separately and
boiled at 50oC for 1 hour. Later it was filtered using Whatman filter paper no.1 and the extracts were subjected to
rotary evaporation. 1 gram of the extract was added to 1000 mL of distilled water to prepare 1000 ppm of stock
solution. From this, different test solutions (25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 ppm)were prepared by dilution method.
Insect Culture
The larvae of L. orbanodes were collected from the infested fruits of eggplants grown in an organic garden located in
Zaheerabadof Sangareddy District, Telangana State. They were reared on the organic fruits in the laboratory. The
fourth instars from the reared larvae were used for the Larvicidal bioassay.
Larvicidal Activity
The larvicidal activity of the crude aqueous extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus, Murraya paniculata, and Acacia
arabica against L. orbanolis was studied using the immersion method.5 larvae of the same size for each test batch from
the 4th instars were selected and dipped in the respective solutions for 5 seconds. Treated larvae were then put into a
Petri dish having a 12-cm diameter and sliced eggplant fruit was kept in the Petri dishes and observed till all the
larvae are dead of control larvae molt into the next instars. for larval feeding. The temperature of 30 ± 1oC
Madhavi
et al.,

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56171
temperature and Relative humidity of 70 ± 3.0% were maintained throughout the experiment. The experiment was
repeated five times. The number of dead larvae was counted and recorded. Larvae with abnormal symptoms such as
body contraction, feeding cessation, and/or paralysis were counted as dead. The percent mortality was calculated
and mortality data were corrected by the [15] formula.
Statistical Analysis
The obtained results were subjected to probit analysis in SPSS software. The level of significance was set at ≤ 0.05.
LC50 and LC90 values were calculated.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of the study are presented in table 1. All three plant extracts showed concentration-dependent larvicidal
efficacy. Figure 1 illustrates the mortalities of the tested plant extracts against the larvae of L. orbanolis at different
concentrations. M. paniculata extracts were the most effective, with 100% mortality observed at a concentration of 400
ppm. At 50 ppm concentration also, it showed 52.17% mortality. The LC50 and LC90 values of M. paniculata extracts
were calculated to be 38.23 and 242.39, respectively. P. hysterophorus and A. arabica also exhibited promising results,
with 86.96% and 78.26% larvicidal activity at 400 ppm, respectively. P. hysterophorus showed more than 50 %
mortality was delivered at 100 ppm (52.17%) while A. arabica at 200 ppm (69.57%). Figure 2 shows the LC50 and
LC90 values of the tested plant extracts against the larvae of L. orbanolis. The LC50 and LC90 values of these two
plant extracts were calculated to be 59.59 and 546.59 and 86.08 and 891.39, respectively.
It is evident from the study that M. paniculata was effective in controlling the larvae of L. orbanolis while P.
hysterophorus and A. arabica delivered moderate results. In other studies, several phytochemicals were found effective
in controlling the larvae of L. orbonalis. Liuppai oil (2%) and Pungam oil(2%) were effective against the L. orbonalis
larvae [12]. Oil palm bunch ash, soursop seeds, and goat weed leaf extract were proven effective against Leucinodes
orbonalis [16]. The results showed that the lowest mean percentage of fruit damage was recorded in the plants
treated with Lambda-cyhalothrin (20.38%), followed by goat weed (29.03%), soursop (40.69%), palm bunch ash
(43.30%), and the control (67.08%).
Alkaloids, flavonoids, Triterpenoids, Phenols, Saponins, and steroid glycosides presence were confirmed [17] in
aqueous leaf extracts of P. hysterophorus. These extracts were proven to control the larvae of Aedes aegyptii [18]. M.
paniculata leaves were reported to possess alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins [19] and they were effective as
larvicides against Culex quinquefasciatus [20].
CONCLUSION
This study provides evidence that crude aqueous extracts of M. paniculata have significant larvicidal activity against
L. orbonalis. These findings indicate that M. paniculata may be a promising alternative to synthetic pesticides in the
control of this pest. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of these plant extracts under field conditions
and to determine their potential for commercialization as a biopesticide. The use of botanical extracts for pest control
can provide a sustainable solution to the challenges posed by synthetic pesticides and contribute to the development
of eco-friendly pest management strategies.
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Table 1. Larvicidal bioassay results of the P. hysterophorus, M. paniculata, and A. arabica against the 4th instar
larvae of L. orbanolis.
P. hysterophorus M. paniculata A.arabica
Mortality % obtained
with different Conc.
0
0
±
1.41
0 ± 1.41
0 ± 1.41
25
30.43 ± 2.53
39.13 ± 2.81
21.74 ± 2.07
50
39.13 ± 2.37
52.17 ± 2.81
30.43 ± 2.03
100
52.17 ± 3.2
65.22 ± 2.97
43.48 ± 2.24
200
69.57 ± 1.66
82.61 ±
2.53
69.57 ± 2.7
400
86.96 ± 3.34
100 ± 1.95
78.26 ± 2.47
Standard Error
0.29
0.34
0.29
LC 50 (LCL
-
UCL)
60.50 (31.33
-
93.73)
38.23 (19.87
-
55.94)
86.80 (51.960
-
134.69)
LC 90 (LCL
-
UCL)
670.01
(320.84
-
4262.34)
242.39 (151.09
-
643.53)
891.39 (411.41
-
5851.45)
Regression equation
y = 2.25 + 1.26 x
y = 1.94 + 1.25 x
y = 2.43 + 1.26 x
R
2
0.96
0.98
0.97
χ2 Value
0.75
2.59
0.67
Figure 1. Larvicidal efficacy of the crude aqueous extracts of
P. hysterophorus
,
M. paniculata,
and
A. arabica
against the 4
th
instar larvae of
L. orbanolis.
Figure 2. Lethal concentrations of the crude aqueous extracts of
P. hysterophorus
,
M.
paniculata,
and
A. arabica
against the 4th instar larvae of L. orbanolis.
Madhavi
et al.,