ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Comparative studies on the efficacy of neem, basil leaf extracts and synthetic insecticide, lambda-cyhalothrin, against Podagrica spp. on okra
Ahmed Oladimeji* and Musa Abdulrasak Kannike
1Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture University of Ilorin, P. M. B 1515 Ilorin, Nigeria.
Accepted 7 July, 2014
Abstract
The efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaf extracts and lambda-cyhalothrin were compared at three levels of concentration against flea beetle, Podagrica spp. (Jac.) in okra. The leaf extracts were applied at 5, 10 and 20 ml per litre while lambda-cyhalothrin was applied at 2.5, 3.75 and 5.0 ml per litre. Distilled water only served as control. In this study, treatment of okra plant with the synthetic insecticide and the leaf extracts against Podagrica spp. using hand spray significantly suppressed (P < 0.05) insect population, reduced leaf damage and enhanced dry pod yield. The treated okra plants performed significantly better (P < 0.05) than the control. Percentage reduction in leaf damage ranged between 21 - 43% in O. basilicum, 50 - 54% in Azadirachta indica and 72 - 81% in lambda-cyhalothrin compared with the control. There was significant linear negative relationship between dry pod yield and surface area of leaf damaged by the insect (0.001 < P > 0.01).
Key words: Botanical insecticide, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum basilicum, synthetic insecticide, Abelmoschus esculentus, flea beetle.