Effect of Insecticides and Cultivars on Eggplant Production in Nigeria

Field trial were conducted at BiuBorno State during the 2008 and 2009 rainy seasons to study the reaction of three cultivars of eggplants to insecticide sprays against Eublemma olivacea (walk)infestation.The factorial experiment was laid in strip-split plot designwhich consisted of three local eggplant cultivars(Biu StrippedBiu Whiteand Biu Green) two insecticdes (endosulfan neem seed aqueous extract)and untreated control and three insecticide spray regimes at 2 weeks after transplanting(WAT)at seedling stage;at 2 and 4WAT i.e at seedling and flowering stages and at 24 and 8 WAT i.e at seedlingsflowering and fruiting stages.Each cultivarinsecticides and spray regime treatment were allocated to a plot of 2mx2mreplicated three times and randomized in each block.Endosulfan 35EC contain 0.30% active ingredient was applied at the rate of 30ml/20litre of water and neem seed aqueous extract was applied at the rate of 50g of neem seed powder in 1litre of water.Data on number of larvae of Eublemma olivacea/plotfruit damagepercentage yield damage were recorded and analysed.Results show three spray regimes to be the spray regime that significantly lowered the number of larvae.