TY - BOOK AU - Neeraja, S R AU - Narayana, R(Guide) TI - Development of botanical soap formulation fortified with essential oils for the management of the pests of brinjal U1 - 632.6 PY - 2023/// CY - Vellayani PB - Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture KW - Entomology KW - Brinjal KW - Management of pest KW - Soap formulation N1 - MSc N2 - The present study entitled “Development of botanical soap formulations fortified with essential oils for the management of pests of brinjal” was conducted at the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, with the objective of assessing the bioactivity of a botanical soap formulation against the pests of brinjal. The present study was carried out as four different experiments including preparation of botanical soap formulations, laboratory bioassay of soap formulations against fourth instar grubs of epilachna beetle, field assessment of soap formulations against major pests of brinjal and evaluation of its shelf life. Leaf dip bioassay were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of botanical soap formulations against epilachna beetle grubs, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. After 24 hours of treatment, the highest percentage mortality (54.42) was observed in neem oil+ citronella oil soap @ 2%. The treatments, neem oil +basil oil soap @ 2% (38.61%), pongamia oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% (37.56%) and pongamia oil +basil oil soap @ 2% (40.80%) were found to be on par with neem oil+ citronella oil soap @ 2%. After 48 hours of treatment, the highest percentage mortality was recorded for neem oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% (80.44) and were found to be on par with neem oil +basil oil soap @ 2% (70.16), pongamia oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% (62.02), pongamia oil +basil oil soap @ 2% (61.42). Based on the results obtained from the bioassay, six treatments were selected for further experiments. The treatment involving neem oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% recorded the highest repellent effect (80 %). This was found to be statistically on par with pongamia oil+citronella oil soap @ 2% (73.33) and neem oil + citronella oil soap @ 1% (65.00%) 30 minutes after treatment. Sixty minutes after treatment (MAT), neem oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% accorded 85% repellence and was found to be on par with pongamia oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% (76.67%). Field trials were conducted to ascertain the efficacy of botanical soap formulations against major pests of brinjal. Among the different treatments, the treatment involving neem oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% exhibited the highest percent reduction in the population (59.66) of aphids after fourteen days of first spray. The same trend was observed in the second spray schedule (57.05). Against whiteflies, pongamia oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% recorded highest percent reduction in the population (71.38) after fourteen days of first spray. The same trend was observed in the second spray schedule (76.45). Neem oil soap @ 2% exhibited highest percent reduction in the population (75.92) of leafhopper after fourteen days of first spray. The same trend was observed in the second spray schedule (70.06). The highest percent reduction of damaged leaves by epilachna beetle was exhibited by neem oil+ citronella oil soap @ 2% (39.98) after fourteen days of first spray. The same trend was observed in the second spray schedule (40.84). The highest percent reduction of damaged fruits by fruit and shoot borer was exhibited by neem oil+ citronella oil soap @ 2% (69.53) after fourteen days of first spray. The same trend was observed in the second spray schedule (43.98). The highest fruit yield wasrecorded for the treatment, neem oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% (1556.66 g/plant). The shelf life studies revealed that after the first month, neem oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% recorded 46.71 and 65.09 percentage mortality of grubs after 24 and 48 hours of treatment, respectively when stored under refrigerated conditions. Neem oil + citronella oil @ 2% exhibited 43.03 and 61.25 percent mortality of grubs after 24 and 48 hours of treatment, respectively under room conditions. The treatments, neem oil +basil oil soap @ 2% and pongamia oil + citronella oil soap @ 2% were found to be on par with neem oil + citronella oil soap @ 2%. This study investigated the efficacy of botanical soap formulations under laboratory and field conditions. The results obtained from the laboratory and field evaluation proved the potential of neem oil + citronella oil soap @ 2%, and it can be recommended for controlling the pest population. Evaluation of shelf life of these formulations revealed that their effectiveness remained for three months ER -