IN VITRO EVALUATION OF THE INSECTICIDAL EFFECT OF LOROCO LEAF EXTRACT (Fernaldia pandurata) ON THRIPS (Frankliniella occidentalis)

 SUMMARY

The extract of the loroco leaf (Fernaldia pandurata) has an insecticidal effect due to the essential oils it contains, including lauric acid, to which part of this effect is attributed, thus presenting a control alternative to farmers to be able to combat insect pests such as thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), which affects crops such as pepper (Capsicum annuum).

The objective of the research was to evaluate at the in vitro level the percentage of mortality that loroco leaf extract can present at five different concentrations on thrips, a chemical control (1.8% abamectin), an absolute (distilled water + methanol) and a control without product application were used. The evaluation was performed under a completely randomized design with eight treatments and four replications. The chemical control obtained the highest mortality percentage with 98.53% while the concentrations of the loroco leaf extract presented a mortality percentage of 66.30% at 100 ppm, 77.97% at 125 ppm, 81.99% at 150 ppm, 81.84% at 175 ppm and 81.54% at 200 ppm. The chemical control compared to the concentrations of loroco leaf extract has a mortality percentage greater than 18% on thrips, while the concentrations of the loroco leaf extract compared to the absolute control and the control without application have a mortality percentage greater than 70% on thrips. The mean lethal dose (LD50) of the loroco leaf extract was determined at the concentration of 52.96 ppm lauric acid.