Effect of indigenous plant extracts in controlling the groundnut leaf miner, Aproaerema modicella

A field trial was conducted during 1995-97 to evaluate the efficacy of diff erent plant extracts in comparison with monocrotophos against groundnut lea fminer. The check monocrotophos was superior with 43.4 and 27.2% reduction in larval population and damaged leaflets respectively over control. Among the 9 plant extracts tested, Vitex leaf extract 5% and Crotons plant extrac t 5% were found to be effective with 24.7% low larval population and 19.3 a nd 15.1% low damaged leaflets over control. The dry pod yield was maximum w ith 1 432 kg/ha in monocrotophos followed by 1 302 kg/ha in Vitex Leaf extr act which were 18.99 and 10.91% higher over control. The benefit : cost rat io was high in Vitex leaf extract (5.60), Eucalyptus leaf extract (5.29) an d Tribulus plant extract (5.25), while it was 4.75 in monocrotophos. Consid ering the effect and net return, Vitex leaf extract was an effective altern ate to insecticides in controlling the groundnut leafminer.