A REVIEW ON COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF BRINJAL SHOOT AND FRUIT BORER

Cultivation of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is of significant globalimportance, especially in Bangladesh, where it ranks second after potato. The production of brinjal in Bangladesh was 619000 Mt in 2021-22. However, the annual brinjal production in Bangladesh lags behind to leading brinjal-producing countries like India, China, and Japan due to various challenges encompassing environmental factors, soil conditions, insect pests, and diseases. One of the most formidable challenges is the infestation of brinjal shoot and fruit borer (BSFB), Leucinodes orbonalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), which inflicts substantial yield losses and threatens food security. This review synthesizes existing knowledgeand innovations to provide a comprehensive understanding of management strategies to combat this notorious pest. This article states the effectiveness of various approaches, and their ecological and economic impacts, and offersinsights and recommendations for sustainable management strategies of BSFB.Integrated pest management (IPM) packages have demonstrated significant success in reducingthe infestation of brinjal shoot and fruit borer. Among the tacticsof IPM, culturalpractices such as mulching and clipping proveto be highly effective in reducing infestation levels. Neem oil and leaf extract have shown to be effective in controlling this pest.