Field efficacy of different insecticides, Bacillus thuringlensis var. kurstaki (B.t.), neem and diflubenzuron for the control of shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. on egg plant

During the two seasons, shoot infestation by Leucinodes orbonalis was low due to the spraying of endosulfan and cypermethrin alone (shoot damage ranging from 5.27 to 7.67 per cent) in comparison to untreated control (11.83 to 13.82 per cent shoot damage). The phorate application at transplanting followed by foliar spray of B.t. + carbaryl also reduced the shoot infestation ranging from 6.71 to 9.36 per cent. The fruit infestation on number basis was minimum in the treatment of phorate application at transplanting followed by a combined application of B.t. + endosulfan and B.t. + carbaryl recording 8.71 to 9.83 per cent. Foliar spray of neem and diflubenzuron alone were not effective in reducing the damage of shoot and fruit borer in brinjal.