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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:

Effect of TERI Formulation on growth of Helicoverpa armigera larva
  • 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

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.