Comparative efficacy of eco-friendly methods involving egg parasitoid, Trichogramma japonicum, mechanical control and safe chemicals against Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee infesting brinjal.

The management of brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes or-bonalis Guenee, involving eco-friendly methods was studied during rabi 1998–99 at the Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla. The treatments included 5% neem seed kernel extract (NSKE), neem oil (0.2%), Bacillus thuringiensis var. (B.t.) kurstaki (0.15%), lufenuron (0.02%), carbaryl (0.15%), their combinations (except NSKE), mechanical removal and destruction of infested shoots and fruits with larvae, and release of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma japonicum Ashm. The treatments mechanical destruction of infested shoots and fruits with larvae, neem oil (0.2%) and relase of egg parasitoid, T. japonicum resulted in very good control of shoot and fruit borer as compared to control. The respective percent-age of shoot infestation and fruit damage (on number basis) in these treatments were 14.46, 20.24; 21.06, 23.35; and 23.36 & 28.00 vis-a-vis 52.60 & 52.55 per cent in control plots.