EFFECT OF CASSIA FISTULA ON CERATOMA TRIFURCATA

ABSTRACT Bean leaf beetle (BLB) is one of the pests of concern of soybean. BLB larvae feed on soybean roots, particularly nodules and reduce leaf and pod nitrogen content. Adults feed on cotyledon, leaves and pods and reduce foliage. Foliage reduction showed a delay in canopy development and consequently, yield reduction. During pod fill, BLB may feed on the surface of pods. While larval feeding on root and defoliation due to adult beetle feeding affect soybean yield indirectly, pod feeding inflicts direct injury on yield. The feeding injury on the pod surface facilitates an entry point of bacterial and fungal infection. Additionally, the feeding injury to soybean pods exposes the seeds to excess moisture. The seeds in scarred pods may become shrunken, discolored and moldy. Thus pod surface feeding by BLB directly reduce yield weight and quality. Plant–derived extracts have long been a subject of research in an effort to develop alternatives to conventional insecticides and will continue to be an important source model of insecticides. So, to control the fecundity and viability the larvae and adults of Ceratoma trifurcata were treated with the seed extract of Cassia fistula which proved to be larvicidal and adulticidal in action. The potential application of this extract affects insect fertility and appeared to be an extremely promising approach in bio-insecticides direction while at the same time reduction of adverse environmental and health impacts associated with conventional insecticides/pesticides. REFERENCES Carrillo, M. A., Koch, R. L., Burkness, E. C., Bennett, K., Ragsdale, D. W. and Hutchison, W. D. (2005). Supercooling point of bean leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Minnesota and a revised predictive model for survival at low temperature. Environmental Entomology, 34, 1395-1401. Dawn, H. G., Michael, O. W., Allen, K., Greg, C. and Carl, P. (1999). Managing soybean insects. Texas Agricultural Extension Service, B1501. Finney, D. J. (1971). Probit analysis, 3rd edition Cambridge University Press, London. Hammond, R. B., Higgins, R. A., Mack, T. P., Pedigo, L. P. and Bechinski, E. J. (1991). Soybean pest management. In: David Pimentel, editor. CRC Handbook of Pest Management in Agriculture. 3: 341-474. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. Hesler, L. S., Prischmann, D. A. and Dashiell, K. E. (2012). Field and laboratory evaluations of soybean lines against soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 105, 608-615. Hunt, T. E., Higley, L. G. and Witkowski, J. F. (1994). Soybean growth and yield after stimulated bean leaf beetle injury to seedlings. Agronomy Journal, 86, 140-146. Koch, R. L., Porter, P. M., Harbur, M. M., Abrahamson, M. D., Wyckhuys, K. A. G., Ragsdale, D. W., Buckman, K., Sezen, Z. and Heimpel, G. E. (2012). Response of soybean insects to an autumn-seeded rye cover crop. Environmental Entomology, 41, 750-760. Lam, W. F., Pedigo, L. P. and Hinz, P. N. (2002). Spatial distribution and sequential count plans for overwintering bean leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology, 19, 73-84. Lam, W. K. F., Pedigo, L. P. and Hinz, P. N. (2001).Population dynamics of bean leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in central IOWA. Environmental Entomology, 30, 562-567. Obopile, M. and Hammond, R. B. (2001). Effetcs of delayed harvest on soybean seed quality following bean leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) pod injury. Journal of Kansas Entomological Society, 74, 40-48. Rajeshwar, Y and Lalitha R. (2013). Preliminary phytochemical screening and in vitro anthelmintic effects of Acmella paniculata plant extracts. Biolife. 1(3); 106-112. Smelser, R. B. and Pedigo, L. P. (1991). Phenology of Cerotoma trifurcata on soybean and alfalfa in central IOWA. Environmental Entomology, 20, 514-519. Srinivas, P., Danielson, S. D., Smith, C. M. and Foster, J. E. (2001). Cross-resistance and resistance longevity as induced by bean leaf beetle, Ceratoma trifurcata and soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includes herbivory on soybean. Journla of Insect Science, 1, 5. Tomar, Deepti (2009). Control of fertility of soybean insect pest of soybean by some plant glycoside as an insecticidal agent. Ph. D. Thesis, Dr. H. S. Gour Central University, Sagar (M. P.)