Assessment of four plant extracts as maize seed protectants against Sitophilus zeamais and Prostephanus truncatus in Ghana
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Date
2021
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
Sitophilus zeamais and Prostephanus truncatus can cause weight loss of
about 20 to 90% of untreated stored maize seeds. This study assesses four plants
(Lantana camara, Moringa oleifera, Citrus sinensis and Hyptis suaveolens) extracts as
seed maize protectants against the two insects in Ghana. The study was laid out in
a CRD with three replications. Dried powders (5 and 10% w/w) and aqueous extracts
(0.05 and 0.1 g/mL) of the botanicals were evaluated for their insecticidal activity
with untreated control and Actellic included as checks. Oviposition and survivorship
of insects decreased in grains treated with plant extracts. The phytochemical
analysis revealed that compounds such as alkaloids, saponins, tannins and pheno lic, steroids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, phlobatannins, cardiac glycosides and ter penoids were recorded in all four plant extracts. These compounds may have
caused lower progeny emergence, inhibitory effect, repellent action and antifeedant
effect to S. zeamais and P. truncatus in grains treated with the botanicals. Maize
seeds treated with botanicals after 10 weeks in cribs recorded a reduction in the
percentage of seeds damaged and weight loss caused by the two insects compared
to the untreated seeds. The study proposes that the botanicals tested, especially
H. suaveolens have the potential to enhance quality seed production thereby
boosting growth in the seed industry. The botanicals are recommended for use by
seed producers and farmers to control P. truncatus and S. zeamais in stored maize
seeds.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Sitophilus zeamais, Prostephanus truncatus, Lantana camara, Moringa oleifera, Citrus sinensis, Hyptis suaveolens, survivorship, methanol extracts, botanicals, phytochemical, weight loss