EFFICACY OF SOME PLANT POWDERS AND ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST POTATO TUBER MOTH, PHTHORIMAEA OPERCULELLA (ZELLER) (LEPIDOPTERA: GELECHIIDAE) IN POTATO STORE

laboratory experiment carried out to protect potato tubers from the potato tuber moth (PTM) infestation during storage. At the length of evaluation the effectiveness of four plant oils: orange oil, Colocynth oil, Marjoram oil and chilli oil & four plant powder: Ginger, Cinnamon, Thyme and Rosemary and an insecticide Match 5% SC (Lufenuron) against P. operculella. The inspection focused on certain biological aspects such as larval penetration, pupation and adult emergence. The results indicated that, the selected oils were arranged descending based on larval penetrations as following: Marjoram oil < chilli oil < orange oil < Colocynth oil, while the selected powdered as Ginger < Cinnamon <Thyme < Rosemary. On the other hand, plant powder of Ginger and Cinnamon did not caused emerged moth at conc. 3 %. While Marjoram oil at conc.10 ml/ L recorded the highest efficiency against larval penetration %, pupation % and moth emergence %, being 7.7, 2.3 and 1.6%. Also the insecticide of Lufenuron caused the reduction in larval penetration, pupation and adult emergence; as the percentage 10.8%, 7.8% and 6.3%, respectively. Generally, the present study indicated that, could be protect the potato tuber during marketing or storage period by using safe natural material, such as Marjoram oil and Ginger & Cinnamon powder against larval penetration, pupation and emergence moth.