EVALUATION OF IMIDACLOPRID (210 G/KG) + BETA-CYFLUTHRIN (90 G/KG) AGAINST TWO KEY INSECT PESTS OF WET AND DRY SEASONS EGGPLANT (SOLANUM MELONGENA L.) AT TUDUN GANGAMA, YOBE STATE

Abstract

A field study was carried out during the 2018 and 2019, wet and dry seasons, respectively, at Tudun Gangama in Bursari Local Government Area of Yobe State, Nigeria. The aim was for the reduction of infestation by the shoot and fruit borer - Leucinodes obornalis Gueńne, and Thrips spp. on sweet white and bitter green eggplant cultivars using a multi-purpose synthetic insecticide containing a mixture of Imidacloprid (210 g/kg) and Beta-cyfluthrin (90 g/kg) [30% WP], with a Pre-harvest Interval of 15 days. From the results, the pre-treatment counts of both the borer and Thrips spp., were statistically similar with and without insecticide application and as well as that between the two different eggplant cultivars under wet and dry season productions. Although there were significantly lower mean number of each of these two insect pests of eggplant between the treated and untreated plots at all days after spray applications during both wet and dry season productions. However, such mean number of the borer and Thrips between the two eggplant cultivars were statistically similar to each other under the two different seasons. Irrespective of the season, eggplant fruits production was significantly higher with three sprays of the Imidacloprid 210g/kg + Beta-cyfluthrin 90 g/kg than the untreated. Thus, an appreciable level of protection of eggplant against the shoot/fruit borer and Thrips spp., with an accompanying increase in productivity could be achieved with a minimum of three spray of the treatment combination at the study area.