Authors :

N. Alaguchamy*, and R. Jayakumararaj**

Author Address :

*Department of Zoology, RD Government Arts College, Sivagangai – 630561, Tamilnadu, India, **Department of Botany, Government Arts College, Melur– 625106, Tamilnadu, India,

Abstract :

Use of biopesticides has gained prominence as potential plant protecting agents. Biological activity of aqueous extracts of Catharanthus roseus L (G) Don. were evaluated against larvae of gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Screening for larvicidal activity with the aqueous leaf extracts at a concentration of 1,000 ppm revealed that the larvicidal activity invariably increased with the stage of larval development. Larval mortality was observed after 24h of exposure to the extracts. All extracts exhibited moderate larvicidal effects (2.60, 3.94, 7.75, 30.83, 38.53, and 63.34) towards I, II, III, IV, V and VI instar of H. armigera larvae. The results suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of C. roseus holds a potential to be used as bio-pesticide for the management of H. armigera.

Keywords :

Helicoverpa armigera, Catharanthus roseus, Biopesticide and Larvicidal