Insecticidal Evaluation of Some Botanical Powders as Stored Maize Grain Protectants against Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidea): A Concern for Postharvest Loss.
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Date
2018-12
Authors
Onuminya, Temitope
Agboola, Oludare
Ezeribe, Soromtochukwu
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Abstract
The loss of market values and problem of pests in the stored grains has contributed to the problem of food security in Africa. Post-harvest losses due to Sitophilus zeamais remain an important constraint to grain storage in Africa. Also, use of chemical insecticides have increased food poisoning thus there is resurgence need of using botanical pesticides to control insect pests in the field as well as in storage. This study investigated the insecticidal effects of some botanicals (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Mangifera indica L., Carica papaya L. and Nicotiana tabacum L. leaves) on Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidea) F1 progeny and mortality as well as weight loss of Maize. The botanicals at varying concentrations (0.1 g, 0.5 g and 1.0 g) were applied on 500 g of maize for 3 months. All the leaf powders used exhibited insecticidal properties against Sitophilus zeamais in stored maize grains. However, they are more effective at the 1.0 g/500 g of maize grain, with Nicotiana tabacum being the most effective. At 1.0 g/500 g of maize grain, the botanicals had effect on the proximate composition of the maize grains with Mangifera indica causing a reduction in the carbohydrate content of the maize grains. The results of the experiment revealed that leaf powders of Nicotiana tabacum, Mangifera indica, Carica papaya and Eucalyptus camaldulensis have great potential to be used as pesticides against Sitophilus zeamais in stored maize grain. Therefore, these botanical powders can be used as an alternative to synthetic chemical for the control of S. zeamais.
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Keywords
food security, post-harvest, nutrition, botanicals, shelf life
Citation
Onuminya, T.O., Agboola, O.O. and Ezeribe, S.R. (2018). Insecticidal Evaluation of Some Botanical Powders as Stored Maize Grain Protectants against Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidea): A Concern for Postharvest Loss. Annals of West University of TimiÅŸoara, ser. Biology, 21(2): 157-164