Effects of whey protein and azadirachtin on Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (Pages 53-60)

Abstract

A research work was conducted to develop alternative method instead of using synthetic insecticides to control whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and TYLCV under the field condition. Azadirachtin (Extract of neem leaves) and whey protein (Esterification from cow milk) are non-toxic and relatively harmless to human. Therefore, four treatments, control (T0), azadirachtin with whey protein together (T1), azadirachtin only (T2), and whey protein only (T3) with four replications of each treatment following RCBD design were sprayed of solution @1ml/L at 7 days interval after initial releasing of 100 TYLCVviruliferous whiteflies in each replication. The number of whiteflies were significantly decreased in T1 (62.50±6.81) and significantly increased in T0 (230.50±6.81). The maximum height of plants (97.50±2.68 cm) were found in T1 and the minimum height (82.50±2.68 cm) of same aged plant were found in T0.The highest number of leaves (57.75±1.37) was recorded in T1 and the lowest number of leaves (25.00±1.37) in T0. Moreover, the maximum number of branch at 30, 60 and 90 DAS were found 7.25, 11.25 and 14.00 in T1 and 4.75, 6.00 and 6.00 in T0 respectively compared to others. The highest number of tomato (39.25±1.20) and average weight of per tomato (60.63±1.20 gm) were recorded in T1 which followed by the number of fruits (35.25±1.20) and average weight of per tomato (58.72±1.20 gm) in T2 compare to others. As a result, combined effects of azadirachtin and whey protein shown better performance to suppress the population of whiteflies and the growth of TYLCV.