Eco friendly management of fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae infesting bottle gourd

Abstract

Field trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of seven botanicals to manage melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) infesting bottle gourd. Out of seven botanicals azadirachtin (0.03%) was found most effective against fruit fly followed by NSKE. The maximum yield of bottle gourd (282 q ha¹) was obtained from the plots treated with azadirachtin 0.03% followed by NSKE (280 q ha¹) while the minimum fruit yield was obtained with karanj oil (268q ha¹). The maximum incremental benefit-cost ratio was obtained from the plot treated with tumba crude extract (9.91) while the minimum benefit cost ratio (2.20) in karanj oil.