Jatropha Curcas is getting importance commercially as the demand of fossil fuels increases significantly and likewise Jatropha is an environmentally friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is thought about to be an excellent fuel alternative and it is also very economical compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is facing some problem with pests and diseases. The insects are classified into two varieties: Pest that impact young plants and Pest that impact developed plants.
Young plant insects: Cutworm, Scarabeid Beetle, Army worm, Grasshopper.
Agrotis ipsilon: It is commonly called Cut worm. This bug impacts the seedlings and young Jatropha plants. If the plant is impacted by the cutworm, the stem gets cut nearer to the soil surface and this will diminished the plant completely.
Control: This bug can be managed by selecting the larva found around the plants or by blending the bran, sawdust with insecticides.
Scarabaeid Beetle: This bug damages the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva consumes the organic matters present in the soil and after that pertains to the root. The larva attack may eliminate the whole plant.
Control: The plant with great resistance power can overcome the bug. For heavy attack, insecticides with parts carbosulfan and carbofuran can be utilized to eliminate the insect.
Army worm: Spodoptera litura presence can be recognized by biting in the leaves. The extreme infection could entirely eliminate the plants.
Control: Insecticides are utilized to manage the bugs.
Grasshopper: This is common pest discovered in numerous plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria commonly assaults the plant. The bug typically attacks the young plant.
Control: The insecticides used betacyfluthrin, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, MIPC, and fipronil.
Pest observed in mature plants:
Pest of Stem: Ostrinia furnacalis, Xyleborus spp.
Ostrinia furnacalis and Xyleborus: This bug damages the Jatropha stem and it is extensively seen in Indonesia. The stem attacked by this pest usually drop. The existence can be determined by the larva penetration hole at the stem.
Control: The Insecticide usually utilized to manage this insect is carbofuran.
Pest of leaf: The common insects observed are leaf caterpillar, Neetle caterpillar, Leaf hopper, Mite, Ear corn caterpillar.
Leaf Caterpillar: This insect can eat all the leaves of the plant simply put duration. The quality and yield of the seeds get decreased due to the heavy attack.
Control: This can be controlled by choosing the old larvae around the surface area and discarding the attacked leaves.
Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spinal columns and produces a burning experience when allowed to exposure to skin as it produces certain chemical substance. Initially the bug crowded in the leaf and then spread all over the plant when it ages.
Control: Manually, the bug can be eliminated just by soaking it in water or kerosene. The heavy attack can be managed by spraying organophosphate insecticides.
Leaf Hopper: This pest is discovered mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. The pest targets the leaf and sucks all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the pointer. Later, the entire leaf dry and pass away.
Control: The heavy attack can be controlled by utilizing insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.
Mite: Mite also assaults the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The pest presence can be identified when the leaf become yellowish, diminishes, turns red and drop. The insect can likewise be spread out through fallen leaves.
Control: Some preventive measures can be done like proper sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be dealt with by spraying insecticides.
Some dreadful bug which attacks flower and fruit are, Stink bug (Nezara viridula)
Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.
Stink Bug: Sting bug is a severe insect which assaults the plant during bloom duration so the crop yield totally drops. This bug is seen around the tropical area.
The toxic enzyme in the plant diminishes the entire plant.
Control: Insecticides suggested for this bug is chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, alfamethrin, and lamda cyhalothrin.
Tip borer caterpillar: The insects frequently happens attacks the plant in flowering season and this bug is seen extensively in tropical areas. The female bug laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant tips.
Control: Manually, the attacked seeds are recommended to burn. The insecticides like monocrotophos and bensultap are sprayed at the flowering season.
