LABORATORY BIOASSAY WITH NEEM (AZADIRACHTA INDICA A. JUSS) PRODUCTS TO CONTROL HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA (HÜBNER) FED ON CHICKPEA

A laboratory bioassay was conducted using 2^nd and 4^th instar of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidopetera: Noctuidae) fed on chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.), to determine the efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) products. Neem leaf extract, neem seed kernel extract and neem oil were used alone and in combinations at the concentrations of 5% of each treatment. There was a significant difference in the mortality and all the treatments were effective. The 2^nd instar larvae were more susceptible to the neem products and after 72 hours the maximum mortality (50%) was observed in the treatment where the neem leaf extract + neem seed kernel oil was used. This treatment gave 40% of the mortality of 4^th instar larvae of H. armigera at the same exposure interval.