Abstract

Studies were carried out to evaluate the biological activity of organic amendments against the fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera and safety of botanicals and biopesticides against egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and biochemical effects of Pseudomonas florescens on tomato under pot culture conditions. The feeding and infestation of the larvae of H. armigera were significantly low in FYM + Azospirillum + SSB + Phosphobacteria + Neem cake and followed by FYM + Azospirillum + SSB + Phosphobacteria + mahua cake applied plants. Trichogramma parasitization on H. armigera eggs was adversely affected by Neem oil 3% on treated plants followed by NSKE + Spinosad. Under laboratory condition among the microbial pesticide tested Spinosad (75 g a.i./ha), HaNPV + Spinosad + Bt (1.5 x1012 POBs/ha +75 g a.i./ha +15000 IU/mg (2 lit/ha), Spinosad + Bt (75 g a.i./ha +15000 IU/mg (2 lit/ha) showed superiority in exhibiting higher insecticidal toxicity (100 per cent mortality on 72 h) to all instars of H. armigera larvae. Biochemical parameters like phenol content, peroxidase and phenyl alanine ammonialyase (PAL) activity recorded higher levels in Pseudomonas florescens seed treatment @ 30 g/kg of seed and foliar spray @ 1 g/litre treated tomato plants. These biochemical components were negatively correlated to H. armigera infestation in tomato.

Keywords: Organic amendments, botanicals, biopesticides, H. armiger, T. chilonis