Comparative evaluation of sublethal doses of different insecticides on the ovipositional behavior of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in Brinjal

The world's worst invading insect is the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). For B. tabaci's thorough field control, research on the sublethal impacts of popular insecticides is crucial. We examined the effects of sublethal insecticide concentrations on whiteflies' predilection for oviposition on treated plants of brinjal (Solanum melongena L. cv. Hisar Shyamal) using a multiple-choice test during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. The insecticide efficacy was evaluated on the basis of the oviposition preference of B. tabaci on brinjal plants that were raised in pots and repeatedly treated with a distinct dosage of insecticides. The biochemical changes of treated brinjal leaves were also examined in this research, along with their connection to oviposition tendency. The findings showed that whiteflies favored fenpropathrin 30 % EC and deltamethrin 2.8 % EC treated plants for oviposition over diafenthiuron 50 % WP and thiamethoxam 25 % WG. In comparison to untreated control plants, most eggs were deposited on sublethal doses of fenpropathrin 30 % EC treated plants at 50 g a.i./ha and deltamethrin 2.8 % EC at 7.5 g a.i./ha. The findings of biochemical tests showed that with the exception of lesser dosages of fenpropathrin (30 % EC) as well as deltamethrin (2.8 % EC), all insecticidal treatments reduced total sugar and amino acids. Additionally, all the pesticides reduced the overall phenol level and significantly altered the crude protein content. The treated brinjal plant with deltamethrin 2.8 % EC and fenpropathrin 30 % EC attracted whiteflies for oviposition because it provides an improved site for them in terms of nourishment.