Insecticidal Efficacy of Some Indigenous Plant Species against Flea Beetles on Okra

Abstract

Leaves and stems of castor oil plant (Ricinus cummunis), Barbados nut plant (Jatropha curcas) and Goat weed (Ageratum conyzoides) were investigated in the field during the 2018 cropping season at Umudike against Okra flea beetles, Podagrica spp (P. uniforma and P. sjostedti) for their insecticidal efficacy. NH47-4 Okra variety was used in the trial. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments and four replicates. Results showed that the plant extracts tested, significantly (P < 0.05) decreased Podagrica spp infestation. The treated okra plants had low fruit and pod damage, recorded significantly higher fruit yield compared with the untreated plots. Amongst treatments evaluated, R. cummunis stem and leaf, J. curcas leaf and A. conyzoides stem aqueous extracts significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the population of the flea beetles by 73.68 %, 66.95 %, 58.61 % and 56.38 % respectively. The plots treated with J. curcas leaf aqueous extract had the highest fruit yield and pod density of 10.02 tha-1 and 11.67 g respectively.

Keywords: Damage, Infestation, Okra, Plant extracts, Podagrica spp, Population