Field efficacy of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser,1955) against brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbanalis Guenee.

Abstract

The brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis, is the major pest of brinjal. Field trials were conducted for three consecutive years (2005-07) to assess the efficacy of an isolate of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae against this pest under field conditions. Three rates of the entomopathogenic nematode (1, 1.5 and 2 billion/ha) were evaluated by spraying infective juvenile stages 10-12 times, at ten-day intervals, during the brinjal growth cycle, starting at the 5-10% flowering stage. Steinernema carpocapsae caused significant reduction in fruit borer damage and increased yield in the first two years.