In recent time, the use of natural plants have been encouraged in research laboratories and institutes and also for commercial use. Now a days, there are available in market several spraying combinations of plant products and even in farming have been started using it, custard oil is found to be having natural insecticidal property like that of neem products. Now researches on plant saponin has been started which given desired results and found to be effective on Aphids (Aphis gossypii). These sprayings caused moulting behaviour change and fecundity of aphids. Alatae form aphids are controlled.
Key findings:
The abstract discusses the increasing use of natural plant products, such as custard oil, for their insecticidal properties, similar to neem products. Research on plant saponin has shown effectiveness against Aphids, causing changes in moulting behavior and fecundity, particularly controlling the Alatae form of aphids.
What is known and what is new?
What is known is the use of natural plant products like neem for their insecticidal properties. What is new is the exploration of other plant products, such as custard oil and plant saponin, as potential alternatives for controlling pests like Aphids, showing promising results in moulting behavior and fecundity control.
What is the implication, and what should change now?
The implication is that there are viable natural alternatives to chemical pesticides for pest control in agriculture. This suggests a potential shift towards more sustainable and eco-friendly pest management practices. Agricultural practices should consider integrating these natural plant products into pest control strategies, reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides and promoting environmental sustainability in farming.
Among several other vectors, aphids are most important in North India. Almost all species of aphids (Aphis gossypii) are with vulnerable vectors for transmission of viral diseases. The treatments have adverse effects on settling on to the leaves, oviposition, fecundity and hence with reduced population density. The direct treatments when applied are found to be more effective results and are found more better if the viruliferous aphids are previously starved along sprays.
The Aphid species like Aphis gossypii Aphis craccivora, Brevcoryne brassicae, Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum maidis are identified on the under surfaces of leaves of different varieties of plants. The products to be used are prepared in respective concentrations. Sufficient number of potted plants in replicates are made available. The experiments should be done at exposure places but under controlled conditions. Apterous as well as alatae adults are well identified, before starting the application of spraying treatments.
Observations, findings and analytic statistics
Aphid species | Treatments | Conc. % | Percentage mortality | ||
nymphs | Apterous adults | Alatae adults | |||
Aphis gossypii | kernel extract | 1:10 | 59% | 54% | ---- |
Myzus persicae | Annona oil | 1% | 90% | 90% | 90% |
Rhopalosiphum maidis | Plant saponin | 1% | 16% | 20% | 25% |
Aphis craccivora | Kernel extract | 1:10 | 55% | 49% | 2% |
Brevicoryne brassicae | Annona oil | 1% | 90% | 90% | 90% |
Control water | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
The direct treatments affect also the virus vectors oviposition, nymphal development growth, mortality and there is change in pattern of appearance of population and its density, over all no of individuals per unit area and then accordingly also affects incidence and transmission of viral diseases on to the healthy plants. The same has been observed during the experiment observation as Annona oil by its 1% concentration is more potent for all stages like nymphs apterous adults and alatae adults. On the under surface (Abaxial) of host leaves with direct treatment all the stages of life cycle growthwise are inhibited. That is the reason, overall mortality in highest percentage is observed. The direct treated leaves prevents the feeding behaviour of vectors along with physiologic metabolic enzymatic and hormonal changes along with retardation probably. Myzus persicae & Brevicoryne brassicae were found more prone for spraying.
The direction treatment which maybe apply as pre treatment on leaves before settling of aphids are effective also and should be kept in mind to decrease overall frequency of virus vectors.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Funding: No funding sources
Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of I.T. College Lucknow
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