Validation of Antifeedant Properties of Certain Plants from the Kalvarayan Hills, Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu Used in Indigenous Traditional Preparations against Insect Pests

The Kalvarayan / Kalrayan hills, Eastern Ghats mountains of Tamil Nadu, India, is known for its involvement in organic farming. Many farmers are following Indigenous traditional knowledge to manage insects and diseases of various crops. An array of Indigenous traditional knowledge is still existing among the farmers of the hills. Utilization of these indigenous knowledge can serve as an important component in development of IPM strategies against insect pests. To tap and validate the Indigenous traditional knowledge, a survey was initiated and as a result it was known that fifteen plant species took place as a component in indigenous traditional preparations used in insect pest management. Thus, all the fifteen plants were validated in the laboratory at controlled conditions by using larvae of Spodoptera litura (third instar) as test insect. The bio-assays of antifeedant study at 1%, 3%, and 5% concentrations revealed that Crotalaria paniculata has been identified as the most promising plant, displaying the higher antifeeding effect at all concentrations. The study revealed a positive correlation between extract concentration and antifeeding activity. Holoptelea integrifolia was also shown significant inhibition. Moderate effects were observed for Catharanthus pusillus, Mucuna pruriens and Ipomea pandurata. Conversely, several other plants, including Euphorbia hirta, Polyalthia longifolia, Ocimum basilicum, Mallotus philippensis and Butea monosperma showed minimal impact.