Insecticidal activities of Parthenium hysterophorus L. extract and parthenin against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) and aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch

Abstract

Insecticidal activities of Parthenium hysterophorus L. (PH) studied against Plutella xylostella the major insect pest of cruciferous crops and Aphis craccivora Koch on legume crops. Results showed that PH extract found promising toxicity (LC₅₀= 1140.68 mg L⁻¹) to larvae of P. xylostella after 96 h of treatment as compared to parthenin (LC₅₀= 1709.42 mg L⁻¹). Parthenin also showed moderate repellent activity to P. xylostella (43.33 ± 4.18%). However, parthenin is more effective against A. craccivora (LC₅₀= 839 mg L⁻¹) than PH extract (LC₅₀= 947.87 mg L⁻¹). Based on field bio-efficacy studies, PH extract can be recommended for the management of target pests.

• Parthenium hysterophorus
• parthenin
• diamondback moth
• aphid
• toxicity
• repellency

Acknowledgments

Authors grateful to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for funding. Authors also thank Director, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology for support and encouragement. IHBT communication number for this article is 4038.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Funding

This work was supported by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for funding the projects (MLP-0077 & BSC-0213).