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Screening of Some Botanicals for Eco-friendly Control of Cucurbit Fruit Fly ( Bactrocera cucurbitae ) Infestation in Experimental Cucumber Field

Cucurbit fruit fly ( Bactrocera cucurbitae ) is the major pest of Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.), which severely damage the cucumber production. This study was carried to evaluate the efficacy of fourteen botanicals such as Chili ( Capsicum frutescens) , Garlic (Allium sativum) , Onion (Allium cepa) , Ginger (Zingiber officinale) , Carrot leaves (Daucuscarota subsp. Sativus) , Bitter gourd (Momordic acharantia) , young Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) , Mahogany seed (Swietenia macrophylla) , Eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus globulus) , Black plum leaves (Syzygium cumini) , Jackfruit leaves (Artocarpus heterophyllus) , Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) , Black pepper (Piper nigrum) and Garden croton leaves (Codiaeum variegatum) to control the cucurbit fruit fly infestation in experimental cucumber (Green Rohini F1 Hybrid Cucumber) field during March 15, 2021– May 14, 2021. This study observed a less number of cucurbit fruit fly attack on cucumber fruits in Ginger treatment. In this treatment, only 7.06% fruits were infested by cucurbit fruit fly. The Ginger treatment reduced 14.17 times fruit fly infestation compare to control. However, a high number of cucurbit fruit fly infestations were found in Bitter gourd, young Tomato, Mahogany and Garden croton treatments. Cucurbit fruit fly infestation was low (12.50%) in Neem treatment. This treatment showed best performance on cucumber size (cm) and yield (gm). The lowest yield was found in Bitter gourd treatment. The Neem treatment kept about 3.54 times better performance in respect to cucumber yield than that of control treatment. Therefore, Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) extracts can be used as bio-pesticide for eco-friendly control of cucurbit fruit fly infestation in cucumber field.


Introduction
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a creeping vine plant in the Cucurbitaceae family that bears usually cylindrical fruits and used as vegetables (Thoa, 1998). Cucumber is the main ingredient of salad. Besides being widely used for culinary purposes, cucumbers are also used in facial creams, lotions, and cleansers. This antiinflammatory agent is known for its astringent and soothing properties (Azad et al., 2013 andSchieberle et al., 1990).
Cucurbit fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) is one of the serious pest that limits the production of cucumber. It is also known as melon fly and melon fruit fly. The extents of damage due to cucurbit fruit fly vary between 30 to 100% depending upon the season and susceptibility of the crops species and varieties (Dhillion et al., 2005). Pradhan (1976) reported that the degree of infestation varied from 19.4-22.1% in cucumber. It prefers to infest young fruits (Maharjan et al., 2015). When the humidity is high, intensity of cucurbit fruit fly damage becomes severe. Its abundance increases with increase in daily temperatures, however higher than 31°C is not ideal for its growth and reproduction (Dhillion et al., 2005).
Chemical pesticides are generally used to control the cucurbit fruit fly. But chemical pesticides are very harmful to our environment as well as for living beings.
Alternatively bio-pesticides are plant extracts, which are less hazardous to environment. On the other hand, one kind of botanical may be effective against only one kind of insect or pest, combination of two or more botanicals may help to control all kinds of insect in crop field. Chemical pesticides are costly in the market but biopesticides from plant extract is cheaper and even farmers may be able to make it at their home. Botanicals are easily prepared and their use in controlling cucurbit fruit fly from local plants is sustainable (Azad et al., 2012). Therefore, the present study was conducted to screen some botanicals having insecticidal activity against cucurbit fruit fly and to identify the effect of botanical extracts on growth and yield of cucumber.

Experimental plot preparation for cucumber cultivation
This experiment was carried out in Kharif-1 season during March 15, 2020 to May 14, 2021 at Botanical Pesticides Research Field of Institute of Environmental Science of University of Rajshahi. The soil of the experimental site is Gangetic alluvial and climate is subtropical.
The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with fourteen treatments. The plot size was 16 m x 4 m, line spacing and replication to replication distances were 1.0 m. The experimental land was first opened with a country plough. Ploughed soil is then brought into desirable final tilth condition by five operations of pouching followed by laddering. The grasses and weeds were removed from the field and the land was leveled properly. To support the plant growth, cow-dung, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), Murate of Potash (MP) and Urea fertilizers were applied. The whole amount of fertilizers was used as the basal dose during pit preparation. Then, the seeds were sown in the experimental plot (Table 1). The plot was irrigated with pump-water when necessary. Then the solutions were cool down and filtered with muslin cloth. The prepared aqueous extract was preserved in plastic bottles at room temperature.

Spraying method
Botanicals extracts were sprayed on experimental cucumber field twice a week with the help of sprayer.
One control treatment of without botanical pesticide was maintained in this experiment where only water was sprayed.

Cucumber fruits infestation monitoring
The cucumber field was visited every day and cucumber fruit infestation by fruit fly was counted every 3 days in a week. The percent (%) of infested cucumber fruits was calculated as per following formula: Infested Fruits (%) =

Number of damaged cucumber fruits
Total number of harvested fruits × 100

Statistical analysis of data
The observed values were statistically analyzed by one way ANOVA and the significant levels were tested by Duncan's Multiple Range Test (Duncan, 1951) (P < 0.05) using standard software.

Results and Discussion
Botanicals are traditional and non-synthetic protectants derived from plants. Traditionally, different types of plant parts are used for the protection of agricultural produce; these plants are available in many developing countries and contain several active ingredients and act in different ways under different circumstances (Isman, 2006). Botanicals break down rapidly to harmless metabolites and appear less likely to build up genetic resistance to targeted species. They are also less harmful to mammals and other beneficial organisms (Rahman, 2009).
This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of some plant extracts on fruit fly infestation. Aqueous extracts of botanicals may act as effective insecticides against cucurbit fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) which affect the cucumber cultivation throughout the world. Therefore, efficacy of fourteen plant extracts was evaluated in experimental cucumber field and the results are presented here with possible interpretations.  (Table 3). This study also observed significant effect of other botanicals on number of fruits per plant of Cucumber. The number of fruits infested by cucurbit fruit fly was regularly monitored during this study. Table 3 shows the effect of botanicals on numbers of fruits infested by cucurbit fruit fly.The the highest number of fruits (2.671.67a) infested by cucurbit fruit fly was found in Mahogany seed and Garden croton treatments. The moderate infestation of cucurbit fruit fly (0.670.33a( was found in Onion treatmentand the lowest number of infested fruits (0.330.33a( was found in Ginger treatment. In Ginger and Neem leaves treatments, 7.06% and 12.50% cucumber fruits were infested by cucurbit fruit fly, resepectively. However, 100% fruits were infested in the Bitter gourd and Tomato treatments ( Table 3). The Ginger treatment kept about 14.17 times better performance than that of control. Agrawal and Dev (2013) observed that 5% aqueous neem seed kernel extract caused 66.3% pupae mortality of melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae Coq.). According to Ranganath et al. (1997), neem oil (1.2%) was found most effective against the melon fruit fly infestation on cucumber and neem cake (4.0%) was found effective against pest attack on ridge gourd in south Andaman, India. These observations are similar with the present findings.  (Table 4).  (Table 5). The result showed that plant extracts not created any bad effect on cucumber production except Bitter gourd and young Tomato treatments. These observations are similar with the findings of Azad et al. (2013) and Maharjan et al. (2015). The present study revealed that cucurbit fruit fly infestation was significantly reduced by some botanical extracts that can be incorporated into IPM practice to reduce the synthetic pesticide application in cucumber field.

Conclusion
Out of fourteen botanicals, Ginger (Zingiber officinale) treatment showed best performance for the control of cucurbit fruit fly infestation in experimental cucumber field. A low fruit fly infestation (12.50%) was found in the Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) treatment. This treatment also produced the highest production of cucumber. Therefore, Neem leaves and Ginger extracts can be used as bio-pesticides instead of toxic pesticides in cucumber field to manage the cucurbit fruit fly infestation in eco-friendly way.