Effect of Foliar Application of Ginger (Zingiber officinales) on Shoot and Fruit Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis quen) of Egg Plant (Solanum melongena l. and Solanum gilo l.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of foliar application of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) on shoot and fruit borer of eggplant Solanum melongena and Solanum gilo in Ihiagwa Owerri. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments replicated four times was used. The data collected included plant height, number of branches, number of flowers, number of leaves, pest population and number of Punctures on the leaves. Experimental treatments used were 0, 20, 40 and 60 grams of ginger fine powders that were produced into liquid spray known as foliar application of ginger (FAG) of 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% concentrations of ginger. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the results while least significant difference was used to separate the means. Results showed that 60% concentration of liquid spray of ginger gave the best results in all the parameters used in accessing the experimental materials followed by 40%, 20% and 0% concentrations respectively. This could be due to high active ingredient found in 60% concentration of FAG of which these include gingerols, shogaols, paradols and zingerone.