EFFICACY OF BOTANICAL PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST LEAF HOPPER (Amrasca spp.) ON OKRA Abelmoschus esculentus CROP

Abstract

Okra is a vegetable crop belonging to Malvaceae family which is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. Many insect pests cause losses in the yield of okra crop, however; the leaf hopper (Amrasca specie) is considered as the most damaging sucking insect pest of okra crop. Jassid can reduce yield up to 50% leading to significant economic losses. A field experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab Lahore during rabi season 2021-2022. This study was carried to figure out the insecticidal properties of five different plants extracts viz., Botanicals used in the form of extracts, that includes Garlic (Allium sativum L.), Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.), Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), Red chilli (capsicum annum L.), and Red chilli + Garlic (capsicum annum + Allium sativum).. The experiment was laid out following RCBD having three replications of each treatment. Each treatment was used at 20% v/v concentration. The data was recorded on the per leaf infestation of jassids after 24, 48, 72, 168, 240 hours of exposure period. Among the trialed botanical extracts, the extracts of Garlic + red chilli extract were found the most effective against leaf hopper while red chilli was found least effective. Among the tested plant products, the extracts of Garlic and Garlic + red chilli extract were found most effective against plant hopper at seven days after treatment and resulted into minimum per leaf population of the tested insect. It is recommended that the extracts of Garlic + red chilli should be used as an effective control measure against the leaf hopper