Antifeedant effect
of emulsifiable concentrate formulation of Ageratum conyzoides (L.) (Asteraceae)
extracts against Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)
Vats Tarun Kumar, Prajapati Rajmani, Rawal Vagisha, Ankur, Nida, Thakur Lalitesh
Kumar and Mullick Sanjiv
Res. J. Chem. Environ.; Vol. 29(1); 19-25;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/291rjce019025; (2025)
Abstract
The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, is a highly destructive cosmopolitan
pest of cruciferous crops, causing severe economic losses worldwide. The research
work aimed to evaluate the antifeedant activity of methanolic extracts of Ageratum
conyzoides leaves and its emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations against diamondback
moth larvae in both no-choice and two-choice bioassays under standard laboratory
conditions. In both no-choice and two-choice bioassays, a concentration-dependent
reduction in feeding was observed when cauliflower leaf discs were treated with
methanolic extract and its EC formulation was offered to the fourth-instar DBM larvae.
The antifeedant index (AFI) values were positively correlated with different concentrations
of crude extracts (R² = 0.992) and EC formulations (R² = 0.941).
Moreover, the EC formulation of foliar extracts showed a substantial deterrent effect
on the feeding behaviour of diamondback larvae compared to crude extracts. Our results
provide environment-friendly substitutes to synthetic chemical-based insecticides
for the management of diamondback moth.
