Abstract

An evaluation of fresh extracts from three locally available pesticidal plants in Central Uganda was carried out against two important cabbage insect pests in the field in order to assess their potency for pesticidal application. This followed the farmers’ view that these plants could have pesticidal features as they had been observed to protect leafy crops against pests. Results suggest that Euphorbia tirucalli latex could reduce infestation ofBrevicoryne brassicae below economic threshold levels. Extracts from Jatropha curcasand Phytolacca dodecandra likewise reduced B. brassicae levels but could not do so to required threshold levels. The same extracts were evaluated against diamondback mothPlutella xylostella but none was able to cause reduction of the moth larvae to economic threshold level. Only E. tirucalli latex caused reasonable management. It was concluded that E. tirucalli latex could be used as a management measure against B. brassicae and acontributory factor for management of P. xylostella infestations.

Key words: Fresh extracts, Euphorbia tirucalli, pest management, Plutella xylostella,Brevicoryne brassicae, cabbages.