PRATIBHAV DESHMUKHE, ASHOK A. HOOLI AND S.N. HOLIHOSUR
Abstract
Studies on susceptibility of the fourth instar larvae of Spodoptera litura Fab. to different concentrations of soxhlet extract of Pongamia pinnata leaves showed a significant total per cent mortality of 71.66±1.66 at 20 percent concentration of the extract following a topical treatment of the fourth instar larvae. Maximum mortality was observed at the larval stages (65.0±2.88 at 25 per cent concentration). Growth and development of S. litura was drastically affected by the plant extract at 20 per cent concentration, by resulting in a 73.33±1.66 percent total mortality (of which 63.33±1.66 was at the larval stage) following a leaf application on the fourth instar larvae. The adults were normal for both the applications. For topical application, LC50 and LC90 was found to be 11.09 and 42.39, and for leaf application, 22.84 and 58.87 respectively. The extract also exhibited phagodeterrent properties. The soxhlet extract of Pongamia pinnata leaves is biodegradable, environment friendly, and the plant material is locally available in sufficient quantities, economic to the farmer hence it can be effectively utilized for the management of S. litura