Botanical Extracts of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) and Cherry Pie (Lantana camara L.) for Red Bollworm (Diparopsis castanea Hamps.) Control : A Laboratory Study

A laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the bioefficacy of Cherry pie (Lantana camara) (Lamiales; Verbenaceae, Thomas) and Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) (Malpighiales; Euphorbiaceae, Linnaeus) leaf powder extracts as sole treatments and as mixtures on the control of red bollworm (RBW) (Diparopsis castanea) (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae, Hampson, 1902). Extract treatments (v/v) were Jatropha at 10%, 15% and 20%; Cherry pie at 10%, 15% and 20%; Cherry pie (50%) + Jatropha (50%), Cherry pie (70%) + Jatropha (30%) and Cherry pie (30%) + Jatropha (70%), compared with distilled water as a negative control and Karate 5 EC as a positive control. The experiment was conducted with 3 replications over a 28 day period. Parameters evaluated were bollworm larval mortality and egg hatchability. Both extracts showed bioactivity at all doses against RBW larvae and egg hatchability. Cherry pie + Jatropha (70:30) caused the highest larval mortality, while Cherry pie + Jatropha (50:50) or Cherry pie + Jatropha (70:30) showed the lowest egg hatchability. Bioactivity of the two mixtures was observed higher than sole treatments, and matched Karate 5 EC in the parameters measured. When compared with the botanicals, distilled water had the highest egg hatchability (40%) at shortest period after treatment, and lowest larval mortality (0 mortality) throughout the experiment. The results demonstrate that mixtures of Cherry pie and Jatropha, at a ratio of 70%:30% respectively, produce superior lethal effects to cotton pests, suggesting that they have the potential for use in the sustainable control of cotton bollworms. There is need for further validation of the results through field trials.