Evaluation of indigenous technology for the management of whitefly, Trialeaurodes vaporariorum L. (Homoptera: Aleurodidae) in potato

Plant-derived extracts and phytochemicals have long been a subject of research in an effort to develop alternatives to conventional insecticides. In the present study bioactivities of some plant extracts viz. Jatropha curcas L., Nerium oleander L., Allium sativum L. and Urtica dioca L. were tested at different intervals of spray and compared with two commercially available botanical insecticides, mycojaal and B.t. at 5 and 10% concentration and standard recommended insecticide, imidacloprid (0.03%) against Trialeaurodes vaporariorum L. in potato. Among the test treatments, the highest population suppression of whiteflies was observed with cattle urine extract of J. curcas at 10 (90.6%) and 5% (83.4%) concentrations. At 10% test concentration mycojaal and methanolic extraction of J. curcas also proved as effective as imidacloprid that resulted in an average population reduction up to 90.22, 88.25 and 93.78% respectively over control. The different plant extracts and bio-pesticides were effective for longer duration at 10% (up to 4-7 days) as compared to 5% concentration, but they were effective up to 3-6 days only. All the treatments proved significantly better over control.