Assessment of Botanicals against the Fruit Borer (Helicoverpa armigera) on Tomato

The experiment was conducted under the central farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka in order to assess the efficacy of six promising botanicals (of 50gm/L) against tomato fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera). The botanicals assessed weree neem leaf extract, Datura seed extract, Garlic bulb extract, Mahogany seed extract, Black pepper seed extract and Allamanda leaf extract. The lowest number of infested fruits in early, mid and late fruiting stages (2.67, 5.63 and 4.48 fruits plot-1 respectively) were obtained from the plots that were treated with neem leaf extract. The highest number of infested fruits were from control plots with 11.33, 16.28, and 13.55fruits/plot obtained at early, mid and late fruiting stage respectively. Similarly, the highest yields of 2.45 kg/plot, 3.10 kg/plot and 2.91 kg/plot at early, mid and late fruiting stages respectively were obtained from the plots treated with neem leaf extract. Increses of weight over control were 75%, 55.78% and 88.96% at early, mid and late harvest respectively. Based on total yield obtained from three harvest (8.54kg/plot) compared to yield of control (5.03kg/plot) and lower toxicity to the environment as well as human being, neem leaf extract was the most promising botanicals for the effective management of tomato fruit borer.