Bioactivity of Indigenous Melia azedarach Extracts against the Tomato Leafminer,Tuta absoluta

Fruit extracts of indigenous Melia azedarach were tested for their insecticidal bioactivity against the tomato leafminer(Tuta absoluta)under laboratory conditions.Tomato plants were exposed to moths,after/before application of treatments.Treatments included:crushed fruit extracts of water(500,000 ppm and 200,000 ppm),methanol and ethyl acetate(200,000 ppm)with and without mineral oil(2%);M.azedarach powder extracts(2,000 ppm)in different solvents:water,methanol,ethanol,ethyl acetate,hexane and chloroform;biorational products:neem oil,mineral oil,micronized sulfur and thyme oil.The released moths were removed from treated/untreated plants at 72 h and effect of treatments on adults,eggs,larvae and pupae were recorded.Results indicated that sulfur caused the lowest number of live moths to be present on treated plants and was not significantly different in its effect from that of M.azedarach extracts and neem oil.Aqueous extracts without and with oil caused the highest%of dry eggs and were comparable to neem oil.Extracts in the two formulations(crushed fruits and/or powder)caused significant direct effects on immature instars:eggs,early larval instars and pupae.M.azedarach extracts and the tested products also caused indirect effect in form of significant decrease in number of developing the 3rd larval instars and new emerging moths compared to the control.Consecutive sprays of these extracts against eggs,larvae and pupae on same treated plants lead to very low number of moths for a second generation of the pest which contributes to low buildup of pest population in a tomato crop.