STUDIES ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN INSECTS AND VEGETABLES USING Corchorus olitorius AS A CASE STUDY BASIS

Abstract

 Using Corchorus olitorius as a case study, this project work was carried out to study the damages these insects cause on the vegetables and how they can be controlled. The seeds of the vegetable were grown in a nursery for five weeks first before they were transplanted into polythene bags. While they were grown in the nursery, no insect was found around them except the whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). The growth parameters for the plants were recorded at two weeks intervals. The parameters taken were the plant height, number of leaves of the plant and number of damaged leaves. The type of insects found around the plant was also recorded. The data taken from the growth parameters of the plant showed that the insects did not affect the height of the plant. However, some of the leaves of the plant were eaten up by the insects. Neem leaf extract was sprayed in different concentrations to reduce the number of insects found around the plants. After the application of the extracts, the number of insects around the plant reduced. The insects that were found around the plant were considered to be minor insect pests of the plant because they did not cause any disease to the plant. After the project work was completed, it was concluded that C. olitorius might be a resistant variety to the disease caused by insects. However, further research has to be carried out on this project work.