ISSN 2375-1231
African Journal of Crop Science ISSN: 2375-1231 Vol. 3 (7), pp. 196-200, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Screening of botanical extracts for the control of Artemisia rehan (Artemisia absinthium L.) Aphid (Coloradoa absinthii Li.) in green house and field condition
Mihiret Mekonnen1, Begashaw Manahile2 and Beemnet Mengesha3
1,3Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center, EIAR, P.O.Box. 198, Shashemene, Ethiopia.
2Department of Forestry College of Forestry and Natural Resource, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 128, Shashemene, Ethiopia.
Accepted 18 August, 2014
Abstract
Artemisia absinthum L. is a perennial aromatic and medicinal herb that belongs to the family of Asteraceae and the genus Artemisia. A. absinthum production is practically affected by aphid, which causes up to 90% infestation at the study site. The objective of the study was to screen effective botanicals for the control of aphid on A. absinthum. Crude extracts of Pyrethrum, M. ferruginea, C. citrates, C. citrates + Pyrethrum and Pyrethrum + V. amygdalina were investigated. Diazinon® 60EC was used as a standard check and untreated plants as control. Treatments were arranged in completely randomized design and randomized complete block design for greenhouse and field experiments, respectively. In greenhouse experiment, the botanicals (20% v/v) were sprayed 20 days after introducing aphids. However, in field experiment, botanicals were sprayed on established plants before aphid occurrence and continued at 15 day interval for five rounds. Significant variations were observed among most treatments. Pyrethrum extract showed the highest efficacy against the target aphid with 91.81 and 87.27% mortalities in greenhouse and field conditions respectively. M. ferruginea extract ranked second with 72.7% and 64.5% mortalities in greenhouse and field conditions, respectively. About 87.27- 91.81% aphid population can be reduced by application of Pyrethrum crude extract.
Key word: A. absinthium, Aphid infestation, crude extract, mortality rate.