Anti-Whitefly Effect Using Maclura Leaf Extract as a Botanical Insecticide

Abstract

For the purpose of studying the antibacterial effect of maclura leaves as an insecticide of plant origin against whitefly, a laboratory experiment was carried out using four concentrations of alcoholic extract of maclura plant, which were 0.5, 10, 1.5 and 2.0 g/l in controlling the whitefly in adults and nymph’s phases. and through the results obtained from the experiment, which showed the concentration of 2 g/l was significantly superior to the other concentrations achieving a percentage killing rate of 91% in adult’s phase and 95% in nymph’s phase, in adult’s phase. In this experiment, the number of live insects before spraying decreased from 100 insects to 9 insects after spraying after 72 hours, with an increase in the efficiency of killing rate over the other concentrations, amounted to 16.66%, 42.18% and 65.89%, respectively in adult’s phase, while in nymphs phase the number insects decreased from 100 live insects before spraying to 5 live insects, while the lowest effects for the concentrations, it was to the concentration 0.5 g/l , which achieved the lowest rates in the relative killing efficiency rate compared to other concentrations were  used in the experiment. Tests to detect the content of the plant extract from the active substances showed the presence of many compounds, including: tannins, glycosides, phenols, Resins, carbohydrates, saponins, alkaloids and terpenes. This study evaluated the efficacy of maclura plant extracts against whitefly and study impact of the plant extract on phases of life this insect also tested under experimental conditions.