Neem - a promising natural insecticide for small scale vegetable production in tropical and subtropical countries
1991
Dreyer, M. (Giessen Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Phytopathologie und Angewandte Zoologie) | Hellpap, C.
Simple crude water extracts of seeds of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., were tested in the last 10 years against major pests of various field crops in developing countries in Africa and Latin Ameerica. The results of these trials indicated a good control of severalimportant arthropod pests except spider mites and thrips. Satisfying to excellent efficacy was obtained especially against lepidopterous insects (Plutella xylostella on white cabbage, Diaphania hyalinata on cucumber, Stegasta bosquella and Anticarsia gemmatalis on peanut, Spodoptera frugiperda and Helicoverpa zea on maize, various fruit borers and leaf miners on tomato), polyphagous homopterous insects (Aphis gossypii on cucumber and okra, Bemisia tabaci on tomato and eggplant) and heteropterous (Corythaica cyathicollis on eggplant) pests. The results proved that neem products are suitable for modern conceptions of pest control, i.e., IPM and biological control owing to their unique mode of action on target insects, limited side-effects on natural enemies and absence of toxicity on warm-blooded organisms. Considering the importance of pests as well as ecological and economical aspects, the utilization of neem extracts seems most promising for small scale vegetable production. A recently started pilot project showed a high acceptance of home-made water extracts by farmers in the Caribbean
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