Sucking insect pests and medicinal value of Tulsi Ocimum sanctum L. (Lamiaceae)

Prof. T. V. Sathe; Dr. Dattatray Ghodake; Dr. Asawari Sathe; Dr. Nishad Sathe

Volume : IV, Issue : III, March - 2014

Sucking insect pests and medicinal value of Tulsi Ocimum sanctum L. (Lamiaceae)

Prof. T. V. Sathe, Dr. Dattatray Ghodake, Dr. Asawari Sathe, Dr. Nishad Sathe

Abstract :

Tulsi Ocimum sanctum L. (Lamiaceae) is shrub of height 55–65 cm with hairy stem, purple and ovate leaves and purple flowers which is cultivated throughout the year as medicinal plant in Maharashtra. It is seriously attacked by sucking insect pests like lace wing Cochlochila bullita (Stal.), white flies Aleurodicus dispersus Russell, Dialeurodes sp. and aphids Macrosiphum sp. C. bullitta and A. despersus found throughout the year while aphids appeared occasionally in December–January. These pests suck the cell sap, secrete honey dew like substance, create sooty moulds, affect photosynthesis and yield of he crop. C. bullita, A. dispersus and Dialeurodes sp. completed their life cycles within 18, 22.5 and 190 days respectively on O. sanctum. These pests can be controlled by spraying the crop with 0.03 Azadiractin or Malathion 0.03% or Phosphamidon 0.02% or Neem oil 0.5. O. sanctum is ayurvedic and medicinal plant having antihelminthic, antidibetic and antiflammatory activities. Therefore, leaf juice of O. sanctum have been tested against dry cough with pure honey, 1:1 proportion and juice alone against helminthic parasite infection and wound healing which showed moderate to high curative effects.