In-vitro Toxicity Evaluation of some Phytoextracts against Mealybug Drosicha mangiferae (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Infesting Citrus Orchards in Pakistan
In-vitro Toxicity Evaluation of some Phytoextracts against Mealybug Drosicha mangiferae (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Infesting Citrus Orchards in Pakistan
Hafiz Abdul Ghafoor*, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Asam Riaz and Muhammad Zeeshan Majeed
ABSTRACT
Mealybug Drosicha mangiferae (Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera) is one of the destructive insect pests of many agricultural and horticultural crops including citrus. Extensive and injudicious use of conventional synthetic insecticides against D. mangiferae have led to many environmental and health problems urging to seek out environment-friendly and safe alternate strategies to control D. mangiferae. To this end, the present study evaluated the methanolic extracts and essential oils of eight indigenous plant species for their insecticidal potential against 2nd instar D. mangiferae individuals. Standard twig-dip method was used for toxicity bioassays according to Completely Randomized Design. Mortality of mealybug individuals varied with plant materials and increased along with the extract concentration and exposure time. Botanical extracts of Azadirachta indica (neem) and Gardenia jasminoides (gardenia) were the most effective with minimum LC50 (20.00 and 42.19%, respectively) and LT50 (47.97 and 71.26 h, respectively) values followed by Nerium indicum (oleander). Moreover, the essential oils of Datura alba (dhatura) and Syzygium aromaticum (clove bud) were the most effective against D. mangiferae with minimum LC50 (0.80 and 0.90%, respectively) and LT50 (61.30 and 68.58 h, respectively) values. These findings substantiate the relative effectiveness of indigenous plant extracts as environment-friendly alternates to hazardous synthetic insecticides and, hence, are recommend to be integrated in pest management programs against D. mangiferae and other sucking insect pests.
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October 2019
Vol. 51, Iss. 5, Pages 1599-1997
