Efficacy of Plant Extracts against Aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt) in Brown Mustard Brassica juncea L

Brown mustard is one of the widely consumed leafy vegetables in Sikkim, India. The present investigation was an effort to find out an alternative approach to control aphid incidence organically, by using locally available plant extracts with high spray efficacy on mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi (kalt) in the organic state of Sikkim. The experiment included six plant extracts viz. Schima wallichii, Datura stramonium, Athyrium filix-femina, Piper betle, Alnus nepalensis and Artemisia vulgaris along with cow urine and neem oil at two concentrations. Results revealed that maximum reduction in incidence was observed with Schima wallichii @5%. Growth, yield and quality components were also found to be significantly superior in the treatment with S. wallichii.