Bollcure - a new botanical biopesticide for Cottton
Bollworm
Introduction
TERI has developed plant extract based biopesticide formulation ‘Bollcure’
under a DBT supported project. The formulation is effective against cotton bollworm
(Helicoverpa armigera). It affects the growth of the bollworm larva
resulting in reduction of larval weight (88%). The larva does not reach the
crucial late instar, which, actually is responsible for the crop damage. Thus,
the formulation restrict the population to early instar, resulting in ultimate
death of the larva in early instar itself, thereby, prevent the crop damage.
Salient features of this formulation are:
Effective against Helicoverpa
armigera
Significant reduction in larval
weight (88%)
Mild antifeedancy
Suitable for both organic and
IPM crop practices
Suitable for conventional as
well as Bt cotton
Cost benefit ratio for cotton
1:4.15
Cost benefit ratio for chickpea
1:17.1
Environment friendly
Being tested under multilocational
trial by ICAR Centers
 |
| Effect of TERI Formulation on growth of Helicoverpa armigera larva |
Field trials
Station field trials were conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute,
New Delhi, during cotton season 2004 and 2005 (May-December) with American
cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. var. Pusa 8-6) and with chickpea (Cicer
arietinum L. var. P 362) during 03-04 and 04-05, to evaluate the bioefficacy.
Results of the station trial on cotton and chickpea are in conformity with the
lab results.
Bioefficacy of TERI formulations against H. armigera in chickpea (Organic Mode)
| Treatment/ Concentration |
Mean number of larvae/ sq. m. |
% Pod Damage at Maturity | Yield (kg/ha) | |
| March 11 | March 15 | |||
| TERI 1 (0.5 %) | 1.67 (85.68) |
0.70 (93.82) |
20.31 (69.91) |
1592.70 (205.81) |
| TERI 2 (0.5%) | 3.67 (69.13) |
2.67 (76.43) |
40.47 (40.04) |
1319.40 (153.34) |
| Control Untreated) | 11.66 | 11.33 | 67.50 | 520.80 |
| * Figures in parenthesis are per cent reduction/increase over control | ||||
Bioefficacy of TERI formulations against H. armigera in chickpea
(IPM Mode)
| Treatment/ Concentration |
Mean number of larvae/ sq. m. |
% Pod Damage at Maturity | Yield (kg/ha) | |
| March 11 | March 15 | |||
| TERI 1 (0.5 %) | 1.03 (90.01) |
1.33 (86.25) |
14.88 (77.11) |
1840.3 (231.23) |
| TERI 2 (0.5%) | 2.00 (82.35) |
2.00 (79.32) |
21.03 (67.66) |
1631.9 (193.72) |
| Control Untreated) | 11.33 | 9.67 | 65.02 | 555.6 |
| * Figures in parenthesis are per cent reduction/increase over control | ||||
Bioefficacy of TERI formulations against H. armigera in cotton (Organic Mode)
| Treatment/ Concentration |
% incidence of bollworm |
Total yield of seed cotton (kg/ha) | ||
| Shed reproductives | Green bolls (loculi basis) | Open bolls (loculi basis) | ||
| TERI 1 (0.5 %) | 65.17 (28.50) |
29.52 (59.72) |
36.96 (51.78) |
1182.1 (82.87) |
| TERI 2 (0.5%) | 90.02 (1.24) |
47.38 (35.35) |
64.44 (15.92) |
758.1 (17.26) |
| Control Untreated) | 91.15) | 73.29 | 76.65 | 646.4 |
| * Figures in parenthesis are per cent reduction/increase over control | ||||
Bioefficacy of TERI formulations against H. armigera in cotton ( IPM
Mode)
| Treatment/ Concentration |
% incidence of bollworm |
Total yield of seed cotton (kg/ha) | ||
| Shed reproductives | Green bolls (loculi basis) | Open bolls (loculi basis) | ||
| TERI 1 (0.5 %) | 54.50 (40.13) |
19.84 (70.33) |
32.41 (55.70) |
1460.7 (130.72) |
| TERI 2 (0.5%) | 84.00 (7.72) |
37.29 (44.23) |
50.54 (30.89) |
1151.8 (81.93) |
| Control Untreated) | 91.03 | 66.86 | 73.13 | 633.1 |
| * Figures in parenthesis are per cent reduction/increase over control | ||||
Scale at which the technology has been developed
Laboratory studies were started during late 1990’s at TERI to test the
pesticidal activity of plant species against Helicoverpa armigera with financial
support from DBT. Some of the plant species proved promising based on their
activity level. These finding prompted us to develop the extract and fraction
based formulations and do their laboratory evaluation to see whether the activity
is retained in the formulations or not. Development of formulation was follwed
by two years staion field trials at IARI, New Delhi. The technology is currently
under multilocation trials at four ICAR stations.
IPR ownership
TERI has filed two national patents, one for the process and another for the
product, and is the sole assignee of the two patents.
| S.No. | Patent No. | Name |
| 1. | 1193/DEL/2004 | A process for preparation of bio-pesticide formulation based on plant extract of Eucalyptus |
| 2. | 1534/DEL/2004 | A biopesticide based on Eucalyptus plant extract |
Advantages of the proposed technology over the
existing options
Neem is the only botanical available in the market. TERI technology gave better
cost benefit ratio than the neem formulation.
| Formulation | Cost benefit ration | |
| Cotton | Chickpea | |
| TERI formulation | 1:4.15 | 1:17.1 |
| Neem NSKE | 1:1.5 | 1:14.24 |
| Chemical | 1:2.23 | 1:7.98 |
Details of independent validation
The laboratory work was revalidated by Indian Agriculture Research Institute
(IARI), New Delhi. Field trials were conducted at IARI. Multilocation trials
are being conducted by other ICAR centers.