Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(02): 3133-3140 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 10 Number 02 (2021) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2021.1002.343 Evaluation of Different Botanicals against Red Pumpkin Beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas Infesting Cucumber D. R. Patel1*, R. M. Patel2, P. H. Patel1 and M. V. Dabhi3 1Department of Entomology, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand-388 110, Gujarat, India 2Department of Plant Protection, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Anand Agricultural University, Devataj -387 240, Anand, India 3Sheth M. C. Polytechnic in Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand-388 110, Gujarat, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT K eyw or ds Field experiment was conducted to determine the effectiveness of botanicals against red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas on Cucumber, cucumber in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 8 treatments and 3 Aulacophora foveicollis , replications during Summer, 2019 at Main Vegetable Research Station, Botanicals, Yield, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat). Among botanicals ICBR evaluated against A. foveicollis on cucumber, the minimum beetle Article Info population was observed in the plot treated with azadirachtin 0.0006% and it was at par with NSKE 5% and neem oil 0.5%. Of the tested botanicals, Accepted: 22 January 2021 maximum fruit yield was recorded from the plot treated with azadirachtin Available Online: followed by NSKE and neem oil. The maximum ICBR was registered in 10 February 2021 the treatment of azadirachtin followed by NSKE and neem leaf extract. Introduction tropical parts of India with an annual production of 1.14 million tonnes from an area Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a member of 78 thousand hectares and productivity is 15 of Cucurbitaceae family which is comprised of tonnes per hectare (Anon., 2017). Various 118 genera and 825 species (Laila et al., pests attacking the cucumber crop are fruit fly 2015). Among various horticultural crops [Bactrocera cucurbitae Coq.], red pumpkin grown in the world, India is the second largest beetle [Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas], black producer of vegetables in the world, next to pumpkin beetle [Aulacophora atripennis China. Cucumber has been reported as a Fabricius], pumpkin caterpillar [Margaronia commercial cash crop in tropical and sub- indica Saunders], American serpentine leaf 3133 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(02): 3133-3140 miner [Liriomyza trifolii Burgess], bottle summer, 2019 at Main Vegetable Research gourd moth [Sphenarches anisodactylus Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand Walker], aphids [Aphis spp.], banded blister (Gujarat) in Randomized Block Design (RBD) beetle [Zonabris postulata Tk. and Mylabris with 8 treatments and 3 replications each phlarata Pall.] and dudhi bugs [Nesidiocoris having gross plot size of 7.5 x 5.0 m and net tenuis Reut. and Gampsocoris spp.]. Most of plot size of 4.5 x 3.0 m. Cucumber variety the insect-pests causing damage at any stage Gujarat Cucumber-1 was sown at spacing of of plant growth, but some of them are serious 1.5 x 1.0 m on 2nd March, 2019. at seedling stage viz., red pumpkin beetle, leaf miner, flea beetle, while fruit fly appears at Treatments were used: T1= Neem Seed Kernel fruiting stage (Ram et al., 2009). Red pumpkin Extract 5%, T2= Neem leaf extract 10%, T3= beetle is the most serious and destructive Ardusi leaf extract 5%, T4= Neem Oil 0.5%, polyphagous pest of cucurbitaceous vegetables T5= Garlic bulb extract 5%, T6= Ginger especially cucumber, white gourd, water rhizome extract 5%, T7= Azadirachtin 0.15 EC melon, muskmelon and sweet gourd in India 0.0006% and T8=control. Cucumber crop was (Varavdekar and Dumbre, 1992). It causes raised by adopting all recommended about 35 to 75 per cent damage to all agronomical practices except insecticide cucurbits, except bitter gourd at seedling stage application. which needs to be re-sowing of crop. Both the adults and the grubs of red pumpkin beetle The first spray of respective botanicals was causing considerable damage to cucurbit sprayed after the appearance of pest. The plants during all stages of plant development second spray was applied after 10 days of first (Atwal and Dhaliwal, 2002). Chemical spray. Spray fluid was applied by using insecticides are used as the front line defense manually operated knapsack sprayer fitted sources against insect pests in India. However, with hollow cone nozzle. For the purpose of their indiscriminate use creates a number of recording the observations, five plants were problems such as development of resistance randomly selected from each net plot. against insecticides, pest resurgence and Observations on red pumpkin beetle were environmental hazards including residue in recorded prior as well as 3, 5, 7 and 10 days soil, water, vegetables and fruits. The concept after each spray. of pest control with botanicals is emerging worldwide as it is eco-friendly and cost The fruit yield was recorded picking wise effective. Botanical pesticides are from each plot. Then the plot-wise yield environmentally safer, unique with novel obtained was converted into q/ha. For mode of action and rich source of biologically determine the increase in yield and avoidable active compounds. Keeping all the above losses, following formula given by Khosla points in view, the experiment was conducted (1977) were used: to evaluate the effectiveness of some botanicals for controlling A. foveicollis infesting cucumber crop. Materials and Methods In order to evaluate the efficacy of different botanicals against A. foveicollis on cucumber, a field experiment was carried out during 3134 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(02): 3133-3140 Results and Discussion other. Of the tested botanicals, ginger rhizome extract 5 per cent found least effective by The data on red pumpkin beetle population recording the highest beetle population (2.75 before spraying of botanicals showed non- beetles/plant). significant differences among different treatments which indicated homogenous Overall, the data on pooled over sprays distribution of pest in the experimental plot showed that significantly the lowest beetle (Table 1). All the evaluated botanicals were population was recorded in the plot treated found significantly superior over control up-to with azadirachtin 0.0006 per cent (1.81 10 days of spray. beetles/plant). NSKE 5 per cent (2.16 beetles/plant) and neem oil 0.5 per cent (2.56 The data on pooled over periods of first spray beetles/plant) remained as next effective differ significantly to each other. Minimum treatment in suppressing the beetle population population of red pumpkin beetle was and both were differed significantly from each recorded in plots treated with azadirachtin other. The highest population was recorded in 0.0006 per cent (2.57 beetles/plant) and it was plot ginger rhizome extract 5 per cent (3.54 found at par with NSKE 5 per cent (3.09 beetles/plant) and it was found at par with beetles/plant). These two treatments were garlic bulb extract 5 per cent (3.15 found significantly superior to rest of the beetles/plant), neem leaf extract 10 per cent treatments. Neem oil 0.5 per cent (3.48 (3.19 beetles/plant) and ardusi leaf extract 5 beetles/plant) and garlic bulb extract 5 per per cent (3.30 beetles/plant). cent (4.13 beetles/plant) were found effective with lower beetle population and remained as Yield next effective treatments in controlling the pest. The plot treated with ginger rhizome The data (Table 2) on yield showed higher extract 5 per cent recorded maximum (4.41 fruit yield in all the treated plots than beetles/plant) population of red pumpkin untreated plot. The maximum yield (122.58 beetle and it was at par with neem leaf extract q/ha) recorded in azadirachtin 0.0006 per cent 10 per cent (4.22 beetles/plant) and ardusi leaf and at par with NSKE 5 per cent (117.07 extract 5 per cent (4.31 beetles/plant) and q/ha). Minimum yield (87.29 q/ha) was proved as less effective. obtained in ginger rhizome extract 5 per cent which was at par with ardusi leaf extract 5 per The data on pooled over periods of second cent (93.64 q/ha) and neem leaf extract 10 per spray revealed that azadirachtin 0.0006 per cent (98.58 q/ha). cent recorded significantly lowest (1.17 beetles/plant) beetle population and it was at Maximum (70.04%) increase in yield over par with NSKE 5 per cent (1.36 beetles/plant). control was recorded in plot treated with azadirachtin 0.0006 per cent followed by Neem oil 0.5 per cent recorded (1.76 NSKE 5 per cent (62.40%) and neem oil 0.5 beetles/plant) population of red pumpkin per cent (54.25%). Minimum (21.08%) beetle and stood next effective treatment. increase in yield was recorded in plot treated Neem leaf extract 10 per cent, garlic bulb with ginger rhizome extract 5 per cent extract 5 per cent and ardusi leaf extract 5 per followed by ardusi leaf extract 5 per cent cent (2.25, 2.27 and 2.39 beetles/plant) were (29.90%), neem leaf extract 10 per cent statistically equally effective in controlling the (36.74%) and garlic bulb extract 5 per cent beetle population and stood at par with each (49.31%). 3135 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(02): 3133-3140 Table.1 Effectiveness of different botanicals against A. foveicollis on cucumber (Pooled over periods and sprays) Tr. Treatments Conc. No. of red pumpkin beetles/plant at indicated days after spray No. (%) Before First