Evaluation of Some Botanicals to Control Potato Tuber Moth Phothoromaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) at Bako, West Shoa, Ethiopia

Lantana camara, Eucalyptus globulus, Tagetus minuta, Pyretherum flowers and Azadiractha indica, were evaluated against potato tuber moth damage including two checks (Diazinon 60% EC and untreated check) at Bako Agricultural Research Center in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 cropping seasons. A total of twenty-one huts were constructed from locally available materials. Inside each store, 1m2 bed storage sacks were constructed 65 cm above the ground. Six hundred and fifty (650) numbers of potato tubers were stored on the bed of each hut in two layers one over the other. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant powder and Diazinon 60% EC were applied at the rate of 50 g/bed and 3.5 ml/bed respectively at two months interval. The treatments that showed promising effects were further advanced on a large bed (2 m x 3 m) without replication. Data was collected for the number of potatoes infested and damaged by potato tuber moth, and number of potatoes damaged by some factors other than potato tuber moth. Evaluations were made at an interval of fifteen days for seven consecutive months. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences among the treatments. Number of potatoes infested and damaged by potato tuber moth was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in Lantana camara, Eucalyptus globulus and Pyretherum flowers than the other treatments. Percent of potatoes infested and damaged by potato tuber moth on a large bed were lower for Lantana camara, Eucalyptus globules, Pyretherum flowers and Diazinon , while higher for the other treatments. Percent of potatoes damaged by diseases and other factors were significantly high in all treatments and non-significant differences were observed among them. From this study it can be conclude that Lantana camara, Eucalyptus globules and Pyretherum flowers could be used to protect seed potatoes from potato tuber moth damage in diffused light storage