Biopesticidal effect of Tinospora crispa extract against flea beetles, Phyliotera sinuata ateph

Biopesticides have gained prominence as potential plant protecting agents. The stems of Tinospora crispa, a tropical plant, have been reported to possess insecticidal properties. However, study on the effect of T. crispa against flea beetles is very limited. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the insecticidal properties of the chloroform (CETC), ethanol (EETC), petroleum ether (PEETC) and ethyl acetate (EAETC) extracts of Tinospora crispa on Phyliotera sinuata ateph infesting mustard plant (Brassica juncea rugosa). The stems used in the experiment were collected from the locality and serially extracted with petroleum ether, followed by chloroform, ethanol, and ethyl acetate. A commercial pesticide, Cyperin (CCP) was included in the treatments as a standard check alongside the untreated (control). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments and four replicates. The efficacy of the treatments was based on the percentage reduction in Phyliotera sinuata ateph population. Results of the present study revealed that the application of 1.0 g/L of the ethanolic extract of T. crispa (EETC) could significantly (p<0.05) reduce the population of Phyliotera sinuata ateph by 30 to 89%. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the most active extract, EETC showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides and terpenoids compounds.