EFFICACY OF MULTI-COMPONENT INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AGAINST KEY INSECT PESTS OF BRINJAL

ABSTRACT: Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most pesticide-intensive vegetable crops in Bangladesh, where excessive insecticides are used to control the brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée) and sap-sucking pests which poses severe environmental and health risks. To develop an eco compatible alternative, field experiments were conducted during two consecutive Rabi seasons (2020-2021 and 2021-2022) at the Entomology Research Field, BARI, Gazipur, to evaluate the efficacy of four integrated pest management (IPM) packages combining mechanical, biological, and biorational components. Treatments included combinations of mechanical removal, pheromone trapping, and applications of new-generation bio-insecticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis, Spinosad (Success®, Sodium lauryl ether sulphate (Fizimite®), Matrine (Biotrin®), and Celastrus angulatus extract (Bio-Chamak®). All IPM packages significantly reduced populations of sucking pests including aphids, jassids, and whiteflies, as well as shoot and fruit infestation by L. orbonalis, compared with untreated control and farmers’ conventional practices. Among them, IPM Package-2 (Mechanical control+Fizimite®+pheromone trapping+Spinomax®) and Package-3 (Mechanical control+Biotrin®+pheromone trapping+Bio Chamak®) achieved the greatest pest suppression (≈76-74% reduction in shoot and fruit infestation) and resulted the highest marketable yields (27.0 and 26.7 t ha⁻¹, respectively). These treatments also provided superior marginal benefit cost ratios (6.48-7.77), confirming their economic feasibility. The integration of mechanical, pheromone, and biorational tools offers a robust, residue-free alternative to pesticide-intensive management. Adoption of such bio-intensive IPM strategies can substantially reduce chemical dependency, conserve natural enemies, and promote safer, more sustainable brinjal production systems in Bangladesh and similar agro-ecological regions. 

Keywords: Leucinodes orbonalis, jassids, whiteflies, aphids, biopesticides, pheromone trap