Pest control strategies for Leucinodes orbonalis Guene-a review

Leucinodes orbonalis is a monophagous pest on brinjal. However, it is also being reported that it may switch to other Solanaceae plants under the stress of the non-availability of the host for feeding. The larvae feed inside the fruit and reduce its nutritive value, and yield loss may reach up to 90%. The pest has discouraged farmers from growing brinjal, which is a profitable crop labelling it as a devastating pest of brinjal. The management methods use biological means such as the use of natural enemies, and other approaches such as sex pheromones, neuropeptides, improvement of genetically modified crops, and RNA interference tools. Though these methods have faced some challenges in implementation, are harmless, supportable, and also species-specific. In the current review, we have discussed the cultural practices, chemical control, and biological methods that have been used in the past or are currently in practice for pest management. Apart from this, we have also discussed a few of the quite recent but hopeful technologies, that can be thought for a tool for the control of L. orbonalis.