Growth Inhibiting Efficacy of Various Plant Extracts on Lamprosema niphaelis

摘要

Active investigations are going on throughout the world to discover safer and effective methods to control insect pests. The insecticidal properties of plants have long been recognized. In the present study water extract of the leaves of three plantsviz., Lobelia nicotianaefolia, Chromolaena odorata, and Dodonaea viscosa was tested for their growth inhibiting activity against Lamprosema niphaelis (Pyralidae-Lepidoptera), an important pest of Pongamia pinnata (L.), Pierre (Sundararaj et al., 2005). The larva webs the leaves and feeds from inside (Remadevi, 1999). L. nicotianaefolia (Lobeliaceae) is an annual, used by the local farmers to wrap around the neck of cattle to ward off blood sucking insects (Jeyadevi et al., 2003). It is also used in Ayurvedic and local medicine (Kirtikar et al., 1975). Dhall (2001) reports that the leaf infusion of L. excelsa is effective against aphids on snake gourd and cowpea and mites on bhendi. D. viscosa belonging to family Sapindaceae is a cosmopolitan evergreenshrub or a small tree, occurring throughout India. It is a popular ornamental hedge plant, resistant to termite attack. It is also used as manure, and possesses medicinal properties (WOI, 1952), C. odorata (L.) King and Robinson belonging to family, Asteraceae, native of West Indies and America, is a serious weed of pastures, forests, orchards and commercial plantations in south and north- east India.