International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________ ______ ____ _________ ISSN 2278 - 3202 Vol. 4 ( 8 ), 49 - 5 5 , August (201 5 ) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 49 Evaluation of the damage caused by the shoot and fruit borer : Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) according to the phenological stages of three varieties of eggplant in south of Côte d’Ivoire Obodji A 1 ., Aboua L. R. N . 1 , Seri - Kouassi B.P. 1 , Tano D.K.Ch 2 and Goue Z. S 1 1 University Félix Houphouët Boigny of Cocody (Abidjan) COTE D’IVOIRE, UFR Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology and Animal Biology, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22. 2 University Jean Lorougnon Guédé of Daloa , COTE D’IVOIRE Available o nline at: www.isca.in , www.isca.me Received 22 nd July 201 5 , revised 4 th August 201 5 , accepted 10 th August 201 5 Abstract A study was carried out from April to December 2013 in the south of Côte d'Ivoire for to evaluate the damage of the shoot and fruit borer : Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee (Lepidoptera :Pyralidae) on three varieties of eggplant (Djamba F 1, Kotobi and N'drowa issia). It consisted in counting infested and healthy shoots on randomly selected 24 pla nts fromeachsub plot. At the fruiting stage, besides enumerating the attacked shoots, the healthy and attacked fruits were also counted. The percentages of the infested shoots varied according to the varieties and phenological stages. The highest shoot inf estations were registered at the fruiting stage for each variety with 53.07 ± 0.97% (N'drowa issia ); 56.29 ± 1.84% (Kotobi) and 66.59 ± 1.62% (Djamba F 1 ) respectively 159, 173 and 166 days after transplanting (DAT). The highest fruit infestations were obta ined 166 DAT (N'drowa issia: 40.04 ± 1.67 %) and 173 DAT (Kotobi: 69.89 ± 1.16% and Djamba F 1 : 82.67 ± 0.52%). Significant correlations between abiotic factors and infestations of shoots and fruits have been registered. Keywords: Côte d'Ivoire, borer, Leu cinodes orbonalis , varieties, eggplant, phenological stages. Introducti on Eggplant known as "aubergine" in France and "brinjal" in India is a plant that is part of the 40 most produced and consumed vegetable species in the world 1 . It is of considerable economic importance in Asia, Africa and subtropical regions such as India and Central America 2 . Solanum aethiopicum called African eggplant or garden egg is one of the major vegetable crops most in West Africa 3, 4 . It has a high nutritional value. The frui ts and leaves are composed of the water, energy, protein, lipid, glucid and fibres5 . In Côte d'Ivoire, it is one of the most consumed vegetables. The fruits and leaves are used in various culinary techniques 6 . The production is ensured by producers living in rural and urban areas and is a source of income for these producers 7 . Unfortunately eggplant is attacked by many insects, among which the most fearsome is the shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Larvae of this s pecies dig tunnels in the shoots and fruits affecting plant growth and the fruit quality and causing a drop in production 8 . In Côte d’Ivoire, eggplant pests management does not effectively control the populations of this shoot and fruit borer. The quantifi cation of damage during the cycle of the plant could be a prerequisite for the establishment of methods for effective management of this borer. Thus, the present study aims to assess the damage of the larva of L. orbonalis according to phenological stages of the plant in order to determine the most attacked stage and to set up an effective wrestling calendar. Material and Methods The field experiment was conducted at Azaguié located of south in Côte d’Ivoire, during April to December 2013. During the stud y period the average temperature, relative humidity and rainfall ranged from24.3 - 28.8 °C, 82 - 89.8 % and 1239.35 mm respectively. Experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) using three varieties (Djamba F 1 , Kotobi and N’drowa issi a) with three replications ( blocks). Experimental plots each measuring 7.5 m x 2.6 m were prepared. Seeds of each varieties were sown to24april 2013. Forty days after germination seedlings were transplanted to the experimental plots to 03June 2013. A plan t to plant distance of 0.5 m and row to row distance of 1 m were maintained in each experimental plot. Each plot was composed of 48 plants then each blocks comprised144 plants. The whole experimental plot was made up of a total of 432 plants. The experimen tal plots have not been treated with any pesticide during the experimentation. The infestation of eggplant shoot and fruit borer larvae on shoots of different varieties of eggplant was recorded by counting healthy and damaged shoots from twenty four random ly selected plants from each experimental unit. The data were taken regularly at weekly intervals from 03 July 2013 to 27 December 2013. The percentage of shoot damage was calculated by following formula : Research Journal of Biological Sciences _ _____________________ ______________ _____ _ _ ____ ______ __ __ _ _ ISSN 2278 - 3202 Vol. 4 ( 8 ), 49 - 5 5 , August (201 5 ) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 50 At the fruiting stage all the fruits were harvest ed from 24 samples in order to count healthy and damaged fruits. The data were taken regularly at weekly intervals from 04 October 2013 to 27 December 2013. The percentage of fruit damage was calculated by following formula: Percentage shoot Infestation (%) = Number of infested fruits X 100 Number of total shoots At the fruiting stage all the fruits were harvested from 24 sample in order to count healthy and damaged fruits. The data were taken regularly at weekly intervals from 04 October 2013 to 2 7 December 2013 . The percentage of fruit damage was calculated by following formula: Percentage fruit Infestation (%) = Number of infested fruits X 100 Number of total fruits All the data was subject to statistical analysis using the statistica sof tware version 7.1. The comparison of means was performed by the test of Newman - Keulsat the threshold of 5%.the correlations were determined between shoot and fruit infestation percentage and abiotic factors (mean, maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity and rainfall). Results and Discussion Shoot infestation at the vegetative stage (stage before flowering): For each variety the lowest shoot infestations were obtained to 33 days after transplanting (DAT) with 6.66 ± 2.35%, 7.50 ± 3.81 % and 12. 22 ± 6.18 %on N'drowa issia, Kotobi and Djamba F 1 respectively. The highest shoot infestations were recorded at 68 DAT with 15.01 ± 3.23% (N'drowa issia), 28.25 ± 3.63% (Kotobi) and 37.92 ± 1.76% (Djamba F 1 ). Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences between the percentage shoot infestations (F = 4.80; df = 17; P 0.001) (table - 1). The lowest shoot infestations recorded to 33 DAT at the three varieties may be explained by the fact that before this week observing, the plants are not develope d enough and therefore had a reduced number of shoots that have been attacked. Our results differ of those Sing et al . 9 who reported in their study an high estinfestation was 73.33% in stage before flowering. However our results are similar to that of Doua n et al . 10 who mentioned the lower attacks of Spodoptera littoralis, Plutella xylostella and Hellula undalis on the cabbage to 21 and 28 DAT during a crop in the locality of Azaguié. Goué 11 when working on the rice pests reported that tillers rate destroy ed by the borer was between 4.49% and 11.95%. Pollet 12 reported in its work on corn pests that no stem was infested before flowering by larvae of Sesamia, Eldana , Chryptophlebia, Catopyla . Shoot infestation at the flowering stage: At the beginning of flo wering stage (75 DAT), N'drowa issia, Kotobi and Djamba F 1 recorded the lowest infestation with 16.72 ± 6.78%, 34.41 ± 3.25% and 39.50 ± 1.41% respectively. The highest infestation for the three varieties was recorded in the late flowering stage (117 DAT) with 25.65 ± 5.22% ( N’drowa issia ); 47.74 ± 3.04 % (Kotobi) and 54.97 ± 4.31% (Djamba F 1 ). The analysis variance showed highly significant differences between percentage shoot infestations (F = 9.89; df = 20; P 0.001) (table - 2). The lowest infestations ob tained at the beginning of flowering stage (75 DAT) compared at highest infestations obtained 117 DAT could explained by the fact that 117 DAT the plants were well developed compared to 75 DAT and has thus more shoots that could then probably be attacked. The results we obtained differ from those of Sing et al . who showed in flowering stage the lowest shoot infestation of 0%. Pollet has recorded that of stem attacked by Eldana sp. to flowering could go up to 60%. Humayun 13 during its work reported at flowe ring, moreover shoots, flowers bud and the flowers were also attacked by the larvae of L.orbonalis. Shoot infestation at the fruiting stage: At the beginning fruiting stage (124 DAT) the infestations increased progressively from 25.41 ± 3.25% ( N’drowa iss ia ), 43.30 ± 2.04% (Kotobi) and 51.91 ± 2.02 % (Djamba F 1 ) until reaching peaks of 53.07 ± 0.97 % ( N’drowa issia ), 56.29 ± 1.84 % (Kotobi) and 66.59 ± 1.63% (Djamba F 1 ) respectively to 156, 173 and 166 DAT. These percentage infestations have progressively decreased for each variety until reaching of22.58 ± 4.90% ( N’drowa issia ); 35.18 ± 1.85% (Kotobi) and 38.25 ± 1.92% (Djamba F 1 ) in the late fruiting stage (208 DAT). Statistical analysis indicated significant differences between percentage shoot infestati ons (F = 14.24; df = 38; P 0.01) (table - 3). The highest shoot infestation could be explained by the fact that at stage, the plants of each variety had reached their maximum growth and had therefore many shoots that have been attacked by larvae from eggs t hat were probably laid in large numbers by females. Our results differ from those of Sing et al . who did not observe shoot attacked at the fruiting stage. It is rather the flowers and fruits that were attacked at this stage. The progressive decrease of sho ot infestations until the end of fruiting stage (208 DAT) for each variety would be due to the fact the plants were almost at the end of their cycle and have therefore less fresh shoots that could be attacked, since most of the shoot tends to grow dry. Our results are close to those of Shukla and Khatri 14 who during their study indicated that the shoot infestations have strongly decreased declined in the late of fruiting stage until reaching a 0% rate. Fruits infestation at the fruiting stage : At the begi nning fruiting stage (124 DAT) fruit infestations increased progressively from 23.08 ± 5.78% ( N’drowa issia ), 33.94 ± 1.84% (Kotobi) and 46.50 ± 0.87 % (Djamba F 1 ) until reaching peaks of 40.04 ± 1.67 % ( N’drowa issia : 166 DAT), 69.89 ± 1.16 % (Kotobi : 1 73 DAT) and 82.67 ± 0, 52 % (Djamba F 1 : 173 DAT). These infestations decreased progressively for to reach at 208 DAT with the rates of 14.27 ± 0.87% ( N’drowa issia ); 21.67 ± 2% (Kotobi) and 28.26 ± 1.08% (Djamba F 1 ). Research Journal of Biological Sciences _ _____________________ ______________ _____ _ _ ____ ______ __ __ _ _ ISSN 2278 - 3202 Vol. 4 ( 8 ), 49 - 5 5 , August (201 5 ) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 51 The analysis variance revealed signific ant differences between fruit infestations (F = 44.77; df = 38; P 0.01) (Table - 4). The highest fruit infestations could justified by the fact that the plants owned the maximum fruit that were for many larvae an abundant source of food and a favorable habi tat for their growth. The low fruit infestations got for the three varieties to 208 Dagwood be due to plants ageing that had thus reduced a number of fruits that would harbor less larvae. The same observations were made by Pollet on the corn. Shukla and Kh atri also mentioned in their study that the highest fruit infestations were recorded at the beginning fruiting, and a low fruit infestation sat the end of fruiting stage. Shoot infestation on the all three stages (vegetative, flowering and fruiting) and f ruits infestation on the all days af t er transplanting at the fruiting stage: The highest shoot infestation on the all three stages was recorded on Djamba F 1 with 45.39 ± 1.5% and the lowest shoot infestation was observed on N’drowa issia with 25.46 ± 1.48 %. Kotobi recorded a shoot infestation of 37.43 ± 1.68%. Statistical analysis revealed highly significant differences between the percent infestations (F = 41.57; df = 2; P = 0.000) (Figure 2 A). On the all days after transplanting (DAT), the highest fruit infestation was recorded for Djamba F 1 (56.22 ± 2.48%) and the lowest fruit infestation was observed for N’drowa issia (29.87 ± 1.31%). Kotobi recorded fruit infestation of 46.32 ± 2.05%. Statistical analysis showed highly significant differences between the percentage fruit infestations (F = 43.74; df = 2; P 0.001) (figure - 2 B). The variety Djamba F 1 recorded the attack rate most high both at the shoots at the level of fruit. The lowest attack rate of shoot and fruit infestation was observed on N’drowa i ssia . The highest fruit infestation on the variety Djamba F 1 could explained that Djamba F 1 would attract more L. orbonalis or the larvae prefer more Djamba F 1 than the two other varieties. The similar observations were made by Humayunin its study on assess ment the damage caused by the larvae L.orbonalis on seven varieties of eggplant (Naeelam, Long Black, Anmol, Kanha, Karishma, Ep - 273, Nirala ). This author reported that the variety Naeelam recorded the highest infestation of the shoots, flower buds, flower s and fruits, whereas the lowest infestations were observed on the variety Nirala. Table - 1 Shoot infestations (%) by larva of L.orbonalis on three egg plant varieties during the vegetative stage Number of days after transplanting (DAT) Varieties Per centage of shoots infestations (%) Djamba F 1 Kotobi N’drowa issia 33 12.22 ± 6.18 bc 7.50 ± 3.81 c 6.36 ± 3.19 c 40 15.50 ± 3.62 bcd 8.33 ± 3.42 c 6.66 ± 2.35 c 47 27.01 ± 4.35 abc 10.83 ± 5.81 bc 9.10 ± 4.77 bc 54 33.01 ± 1.65 ab 16.48 ± 4.30 bcd 14 .18 ± 4.53 bcd 61 37.68 ± 3.66 a 20.91 ± 6.43 ab 14.39 ± 4.02 bcd 68 37.92 ± 1.76 a 28.25 ± 3.63 abc 15.01 ± 3.23 bcd The averages affected of the different letters are significantly different according Newman - Keuls test at the threshold of 5%. Table - 2 Shoot infestation (%) by larva of L. orbonalis on three eggplant varieties during the flowering stage Number of days after transplanting ( DAT) Varieties Percentage of shoots infestations (%) Djamba F 1 Kotobi N’drowa issia 75 39.50 ± 1.41 abcd 34 .41 ± 3.25 bcde 16.72 ± 6.78 f 82 43.12 ± 1.19 abc 35.37 ± 1.20 bcde 20.31 ± 3.57 ef 89 45.94 ± 4.53 ab 36.63 ± 2.47 abcde 20.92 ± 4.93 ef 96 46.13 ± 0.97 ab 38.88 ± 6.95 abcd 21.11 ± 5.48 ef 103 53.10 ± 2.98 a 41.14 ± 2.16 abc 22.25 ± 3.20 def 110 53 .71 ± 4.64 a 42.27 ± 2.60 abc 25.57 ± 3.86 cde 117 54.97 ± 4.31 a 47.74 ± 3.04 ab 25.65 ± 5.22 cde The averages affected of the different letters are significantly different according Newman - Keuls test at the threshold of 5%. Research Journal of Biological Sciences _ _____________________ ______________ _____ _ _ ____ ______ __ __ _ _ ISSN 2278 - 3202 Vol. 4 ( 8 ), 49 - 5 5 , August (201 5 ) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 52 Table – 3 Shoot infestation ( %) by larva of L.orbonalis on the three egg plant varieties during the fruiting stage Number of days after transplanting (DAT) Varieties Percentage of shoots infestations (%) Djamba F 1 Kotobi N’drowa issia 124 51.91 ± 2.02 bcd 43.30 ± 2.04 cdef 25.4 1 ± 3.25 jk 131 52.63 ± 2.55 bc 43.37 ± 2.53 cdef 30.73 ± 5.01 ijk 138 53.36 ± 1.01 bc 47.51 ± 3.86 bcdef 31.40 ± 6.80 hijk 145 55.30 ± 2.22 ab 47.82 ± 2.42 bcdef 31.66 ± 2.23 hijk 152 55.43 ± 4.48 ab 49.53 ± 5.98 bcde 32.74 ± 4.31 ghijk 159 55.62 ± 2 .04 ab 49.87 ± 2.75 bcde 53.07 ± 0.97 bc 166 66.59 ± 1.62 a 51.15 ± 1.50 bcd 45.48 ± 1.52 cdef 173 56.68 ± 2.23 b 56.29 ± 1.84 b 42.83 ± 0.67 cdef 180 55.38 ± 1.18 ab 51.80 ± 1.65 bcd 36.47± 1.11 fghij 187 47.50 ± 0.51 bcdef 50.09 ± 0.91 bcde 35. 27 ± 1.21 fghij 194 47.40 ± 1.10 bcdef 40.26 ± 1.63 def 34.62 ± 2.33 def 201 44.40 ± 1.65 cdef 38.13 ± 0.88 def 25.26 ± 1.83 jk 208 38.25 ± 1.92 def 35.18 ± 1.85 fghij 22.58 ± 4.90 k The average s affected of the different letters are significantly different according Newman - Keuls test at the threshold of 5%. Table - 4 Fruit infestation (%) by larva of L.orbonalis on the three egg plant varieties during the fruiting stage Number of days after transplanting (DAT) Varieties Percentage of shoots infestations ( %) Djamba F 1 Kotobi N’drowa issia 124 46.50 ± 0.87 defg 33.94 ± 1.84 hijk 23.08 ± 5.78 lmn 131 48.40 ± 1.63 def 41.74 ± 1.28 efgh 2.13 ± 2.63 klm 138 50.58 ± 0.06 de 47.00 ± 1.02 def 27.31 ± 0.96 j klm 145 50.96 ± 1.20 de 47.66 ± 1.06 def 29.47 ± 1.75 ijklm 152 53.66 ± 5.56 d 48.13 ± 0.63 def 31.11 ± 0.73 lmn 159 56.67 ± 1.20 d 48.36 ± 0.87 defg 31.85 ± 1.37 lmn 166 77.61 ± 3.31 ab 57.27 ± 3.40 d 40.04 ± 1.67 efgh 173 82.67 ± 0.52 a 69.89 ± 1.16 c 38.62 ± 3.11 fghij 180 73.17 ± 2.92 bc 56.60 ± 4.09 d 36.59 ± 0.57 ghij 187 68.46 ± 2.78 c 53.95 ± 2.77 d 35.24 ± 2.97 hijk 194 55.42 ± 1.07 d 47.02 ± 5.05 defg 34.95 ± 2.40 hijk 201 38.51 ± 2.23 fghij 28.87 ± 1.26 ijklm 20.67 ± 2.98 mn 208 28.26 ± 1.08 jklm 21.67 ± 2 mn 14.27 ± 0.87 n The averages affec ted of the different letters are significantly different according Newman - Keuls test at the threshold of 5%. Research Journal of Biological Sciences _ _____________________ ______________ _____ _ _ ____ ______ __ __ _ _ ISSN 2278 - 3202 Vol. 4 ( 8 ), 49 - 5 5 , August (201 5 ) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 53 Correlation between shoot infestations and the a biotic factors: The correlation s tudies between abiotic factors and the shoots infested of th e eggplant varieties revealed significant positive correlation with mean, maximum and minimum temperature. The percentage shoot damage indicated anon - significant positive correlations with rainfall . Significant negative correlations were observed between o f the shoot infestation and relative humidity ( t able - 5). Similar observations were made in India by Sunil and Senapati 15 who reported in their work that the shoot infestations were positively correlated with average, maximum and minimum temperatures. The t emperatures seem to play a very important role in increasing in the shoots infestation. The studies of Shukla 16 showed a positive influence of rainfall and relative humidity on shoot damage . Our results differ from those of Humayun who obtained non - signifi cant positive correlations between the percent shoot infestation and mean, maximum, minimum temperatures. Mathur et al . 17 also reported in their study that the percentage shoot insfestation was positively correlated with the maximum and minimum temperatur e, rainfall and wind speed while negatively correlated with mean relative humidity. Figure - 1 Shoot infested by larva of L.orbonalis (A.B); Fruits infested by larva of L. orbonalis (D.E); Shoot and fruits uninfested (C. F) Figure - 2 Percentage shoot infestations on the all of three phonological stages (A) and fruit infestations on the all of days after transplanting at the fruiting(B) A B C D F E larva larva larva (A) (B) Research Journal of Biological Sciences _ _____________________ ______________ _____ _ _ ____ ______ __ __ _ _ ISSN 2278 - 3202 Vol. 4 ( 8 ), 49 - 5 5 , August (201 5 ) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 54 Table - 5 Results of the correlations between shoot in festa tions and the abiotic factors of the three egg plant varieties Varieties Abiotic factors Mean temperature (°C) Maximum temperature (°C) Minimum temperature (°C) Relative Humidity (%) Rainfall (mm) Djamba F 1 r = 0.45 r = 0.46 r = 0.45 r = - 0.21 r = 0.07 p = 0.02* p = 0.02* p = 0.02* p = 0.29 ns p = 0.67 ns y = 0.13 x + 21.20 y = 0.05 x + 26.25 y = 0.03 x + 22.10 y = - 0.04 x + 89.04 y = 0.15 x + 17.28 Kotobi r = 0.58 r = 0.60 r = 0.54 r = - 0.35 r = 0.16 p = 0.001* p = 0.01* p = 0.004* p = 0.07 ns p = 0.38 ns y = 0.15 x + 21.50 y = 0.06 x + 26.25 y = 0.03 x + 22.25 y = - 0.07 x + 89.56 y = 0.31 x + 12.66 N'drowa issia r = 0.45 r = 0.71 r = 0.65 r = - 0.28 r = 0.38 p = 0.02* p = 0.000* p = 0.000* p = 0.14 ns p = 0.06 ns y = 0.28 x + 19.98 y = 0.09 x + 26.38 y = 0.05 x + 22.28 y = - 0.13 x + 90.34 y = 0.83 x + 3.12 * : significant at p 0.05 ; ns = non significant at p ≥ 0.05 ; r : correlation coefficient; p : level of significance ; y = a x + b : regression equation ( a and b constants) Table – 6 Results of the correlations between fruit infestations and the abiotic fa ctors of the three eggplant varieties Varieties Abiotic factors Mean T emperature (°C) Maximum T emperature (°C) Minimum T emperature (°C) Relative Humidity (%) Rainfall (mm) Djamba F 1 r = 0.04 r = - 0.11 r = 0.77 r = 0.12 r = 0.67 p = 0.88 ns p = 0.73 n s p = 0.002* p = 0.70 ns p = 0.01* y = 0.03 x + 27.89 y = - 0.01 x + 30.37 y = 0.03 x + 22.27 y = - 0.02 x + 84.10 y = 1.34 x – 43.24 Kotobi r = 0.04 r = - 0.27 r = 0.54 r = 0.17 r = 0.51 p = 0.87 ns p = 0.37 ns p = 0.001* p = 0.58 ns p = 0.03* y = 0.04 x + 27.83 y = - 0.02 x + 30.90 y = 0.04 x + 22.14 y = 0.03 x + 83.71 y = 1.30 x – 27.26 N'drowa issia r = 0.07 r = - 0.29 r = 0.66 r = 0.25 r = 0.62 p = 0.81ns p = 0.33 ns p = 0.01* p = 0.41 ns p = 0.02* y = 0.10 x + 26.74 y = - 0.03 x + 31.03 y = 0.06 x + 22.38 y = 0.07 x + 82.94 y = 2.60 x – 44.80 * :significant at p 0.05 ; ns = non significant at p ≥ 0.05 ; r : correlation coefficient; p : level of significance ; y = ax + b : regression equation ( a and b constants) Correlation between fruit infestations and the a biotic factors: The study of the relationship between fruit infested of the eggplant varieties and a biotic factors revealed significant positive correlations between the minimum temperature, rainfall and fruit infestation. While percent fruit infestation showed a non significant posi tive correlation with average , maximum temperature and relative humidity (table - 6). Our results are close to those obtained by Humayun. Indeed this author has obtained non significant negative correlations between of the fruit infested fruit and the minimu m temperature and a non significant positive correlation between fruit infestation and rainfall. Mathur et al . observed that fruit infestation revealed a non significant positive correlation with maximum and minimum temperature, rainfall and wind speed exh ibited negative correlation with mean relative humidity. Tariq et al . 18 showed in their study that the fruit infestations were significatively and positively correlated with mean minimum temperature. These authors also mentioned that fruit infestations wer e positively correlated but not significant with maximum temperature and rainfall. Conclusion The study on the assessment of damage caused by the larvae of L.orbonalis on three varieties of eggplant showed that shoot and fruit infestations varied accordin g varieties and the phenological stages of the plant. The low shoot and fruit infestations at the beginning of the cycle (stage before flowering) increased Research Journal of Biological Sciences _ _____________________ ______________ _____ _ _ ____ ______ __ __ _ _ ISSN 2278 - 3202 Vol. 4 ( 8 ), 49 - 5 5 , August (201 5 ) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 55 progressively up to a reaching their peakat the fruiting stage. After reaching their peak, these inf estations decreased progressively until reaching low percent ages by the end of the cycle the three varieties. Among the three varieties N’drowa issia recorded the lowest shoot and fruit infestations. Djamba F 1 was the variety that registered of high shoots and fruit infestations. 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