Effects Of Three Aqueous Plant Extracts In The Control Of Tomato Fruitworm (Helicoverpa Armigera Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In Gombe, Sudan Savanna Of Nigeria
Keywords:
Tomato, fruitworm, Mitracarpus villosus, Momordica balsamina, Balanites aegyptiaca aqueous extract, Sudan SavannahAbstract
This research was conducted at Federal College of Horticulture Research Farm, Dadin-Kowa, Gombe during 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 dry seasons. The objective was to evaluate the effects of three aqueous plant extracts (Balanites aegyptiaca Del., Momordica balsamina L., and Mitracarpus Villosus L.) on tomato fruit worm (Helicoverpa armigera Hubrer). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design replicated four times. The results showed that tomato treated with bitter melon at 10% w/v concentration at one week interval significantly reduced the number of holes/fruits in 2005/2006 and in 2006/2007 dry seasons. Bitter melon also reduced the number of damaged fruits/plant in 2005/2006 and in 2006/2007 dry seasons compared to the other treatments. The result also showed that M. balsamina had significantly highest number of undamaged fruits, highest fruit weight , highest fruit size and highest total fruit yield. It is therefore recommended that tomato production spaced at 60cm and sprayed at 10% w/v concentration with bitter melon extract at one week interval be encouraged among low resource farmers in Dadin Kowa, Gombe, Sudan Savanna of Nigeria.
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