Abstract: An experiment was conducted under ambient condition (26 oC; 75% RH), in the Department of Biological Sciences Laboratory, University of Maiduguri, in Borno State, Nigeria. The aim was to determine the best plant products and method of application in the control of the cowpea bruchid (Callosobruchus maculatus). The four plant products treatments comprised Acacia nilotica, Capsicum frutescens L.; Zingiber officinale Rosc., Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) A. Juss, and a synthetic insecticide (Primiphos methyl 2% Dust) as standard check; and the three application methods treatments were slurry, soak and dust; and dose (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 g/100 g of cowpea). The factorial experiment was laid-out in Randomized Complete Block Design, with three replicates. Results of the study showed that the plant products treatments differed significantly (P<0.05) in their effects on C. maculatus oviposition, adult emergence, mortality, and cowpea seed weight loss; which ranged from 13.0 - 85.0 eggs, 2.0 - 26.7 beetles, 1.6 - 24.0% and 1.31 - 9.22%, respectively. The results of the study consistently showed that the synthetic insecticide, Primiphos methyl gave significantly fewer eggs, emerged adults, very high mortality, and very low weight loss than all tested plant products, thus was the most effective against C. maculatus. However, Capsicum frutescence was the most effective among the four plant products, with significantly fewer eggs laid, fewer emerged adults, higher mortality and lower seed weight loss; followed by Zingiber officinale, Khaya senegalensis and Acacia nilotica in that increasing order of efficacy. Methods of application also differed significantly (P<0.05) in their effects on C. maculatus, in which dust was the most effective on oviposition, adult emergence, mortality and weight loss, followed by soak, then slurry.
Keywords: cowpea bruchid, Biological Sciences Laboratory, plant products treatments.
Title: EFFICACY OF SOME PLANT PRODUCTS ON THE CONTROL OF COWPEA BRUCHID (Callosobruchus maculatus) IN STORED COWPEA GRAINS
Author: DANJUMA GARBA GUNDA
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations
ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online)
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