BIOPESTICIDE POTENTIAL OF SELECTED PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST CALLIMETOPUS CAPITO PASCOE ATTACKING ALSTONIA MACROPHYLLA WALL. IN BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES
This study evaluated the potentiality of different plant extracts as a botanical insecticide against 5th instar larvae and adult M.T.B. Mango twig borer (Callimetopus capito Pascoe) attacking batino (Alstonia macrophylla) seedlings. Nine (9) treatments were tested under laboratory conditions, and the three superior botanical extracts were further assessed using cage assay. The experiment was set up utilizing a Completely Randomized Design (C.R.D.) with five replications. All Methanol-based plant extract solutions in the laboratory assay revealed moderate to high toxic effects to 5th instar C. capito P. larvae. However, Annona squamosa (T2), Albizia procera (T5), Carica papaya (T7), and Annona muricata significantly obtained the highest mortality rate as compared to other treatments. Whereas it was observed in adult Callimetos capito P., the highest mean mortality was obtained in A. squamosa (T2), C. papaya (T7), A. procera (T5), and G. sepium (T8). Hence, applying other plant extracts to adult C. capito also reduces mortality. Cage experiment revealed that A. squamosa effectively controlled adult C. capito up to 50% through contact action. Applying the botanical extracts as stomach poison did not manifest control against C. capito; instead, partial repellence was observed. The result of the study proved that crude plant extracts could become an effective botanical insecticide in the protection against 5th instar larvae and adult C. capito Pascoe attacking A. macrophylla seedlings.
Crude Plant Extracts, Botanical Insecticide, Contact Action, Highly Toxic, Cage Experiment, Alstonia Macrophylla