Evaluation of biopesticides and chemicals for the management of sucking pests of curry leaf in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

AbstractA field investigation was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of certain biopesticides and chemical insecticides against the major sucking pests of curry leaf, Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. in the Neyyattinkara region of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala, India during September 2022. Among the treatments evaluated, neem garlic soap formulation- KAU Raksha and talc-based formulation of Lecanicilium lecanii were proved effective in reducing the psyllids, Diaphorina citri population by 65 and 58.17 per cent. Further, Horticultural Mineral Oil and talc-based formulations of L. lecanii were effective in reducing the mite Schizotetranychus baltazari population by 39.18 and 33.44 per cent, respectively. Whitefly, Aleuroclava complex was effectively managed by talc-based formulation of L. lecanii with a per cent efficacy of 75.23, which was on par with chemical management. Among the chemical insecticides, chlorantraniliprole 8.8 % w/w + thiamethoxam 17.5 % w/w SC reduced psyllid, mite and whitefly populations by 89.91, 49.76 and 76.63 per cent, respectively, over untreated control. The study highlighted the effectiveness of some biopesticides, which can be utilized for the organic pest management of sucking pests of curry leaf.