Abstract
Jatropha curcas is subject to the attacks of many insect pests, including Calidea panaethiopica Kirkaldy 1909 (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) whose larvae and adults feed on flowers, fruit and seeds of the shrub resulting in quantitative and qualitative losses; the shrub is also attacked by Aphthona whitfieldi Bryan (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) which feeds on the leaves causing complete defoliation in severe attack. Despite their economic importance, very little is known about the alternative host plants of these insect pests. The study of the ecology of these species is a pre-requisite for the development of appropriate control methods. The identification of alternative host plants of C. panaethiopica and A. whitfieldi was conducted from June 3rd 2013 to November 30th 2014 in the Sissili province, South Burkina Faso. During that period, four J. curcas’ plantations of six locations in the province were prospected for alternative host plants of the two insect pests. In each plantation, observations were done across a diagonal up to 500 m away from the plantation. Fallows in the vicinity of the J. curcas plantations were particularly examined. Potential host plants of the two insect pests were collected and bred in the laboratory in Leo where they were used to feed the insect pests. Only Jatropha gossypiifolia, a cousin of J. curcas, was found to be a common alternative host plant of both insect pests.
Highlights
Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) is a shrub native to Central America that produces inedible oil used as fuel in total or partial substitution of fossil fuels [1]
Plants The plant material was composed of sorghum panicles (Sorghum bicolor), cotton capsules (Gossypium hirsutum), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), fruits and flowers of perennial or annual wild Euphorbiaceas for C. panaethiopica and leaves for A. whitfieldi
The sign (+) indicates that the insect pests attack the host plant in the field and the laboratory and the (-) means they do not feed on the plant in both conditions
Summary
Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) is a shrub native to Central America that produces inedible oil used as fuel in total or partial substitution of fossil fuels [1]. Jatropha curcas seeds contain 30% - 40% oil, which can be an alternative to diesel fuel [2]. Oil of J. curcas is a high performance biodiesel unlike other biodiesels, and can be used without mixing and without engine modifications, making the prospects offered by J. curcas incomparable to those of others in the field of diesel or alternative to conventional diesel [3]. There is the valuation of the plant of J. curcas. This valuation essentially aims at diversifying agricultural production and increasing the incomes of small producers to alleviate poverty in rural areas through the development of short production chains of crude vegetable oil [5]. Jatropha curcas L. restores marginal soils, improves soil fertility, reforests degraded land to promote land tenure security, diversifies income generation and fights against straying animals [6]
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