Potential of Momordica charantia (L.) Bitter Gourd and Garlic-Pepper Spray Extracts for the Control of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Cercospora Leaf Spot on Pepper, Capsicum annuum (L.).

Abstract

The trials were conducted at the National Horticultural Research Institute, lbadan, during the rainy seasons of 2007 and 2008 to determine the potential of 5 % aqueous extracts of the leaves of Momordica charantia (L.), bulb of garlic, Allium sativum (L.), plus fruit of chilli pepper, Capsicum annum (L.) [15 g : 3 gin 1 L of water l and lambda cyhalothrin (Karate x EC ; 0.5L/ ha) for controlling the green peach aphid [Myzus persicae (Sulzer)] and Cercospora leaf spot on three varieties of pepper: Kano. Katsina, and Gombe local, in a 3 x 4 factorial experiment. In the two years of study. there were insignificant varietal differences in aphid infestation and also insignificant interaction between varieties and spray treatments on aphid infestation and leaf spot severity. M charantia and garlic-pepper sprays were significantly (P=0.05) more effective in reducing the green peach aphids on pepper than lambda cyhalothrin which had mean aphid infestation score of 3.20 in 2007 and 3.13 in 2008. Sprayed plots had significantly less severe disease than the control plots. There were significant (P=0.05) varietal differences in leaf spot severity score with Katsina local variety showing tolerance (severity score of 3.98 in 2007 and 4.05 in 2008); the highest number of fruits/plant (4.97 in 2007 and 4.33 in 2008): and the highest mean weight of fruits/ plant (0.98 kg in 2007 and 0.55 kg in 2008).