Control of Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch) [Coleoptera: Curculionidae] on Sorghum Using Some Plant Powders

M Suleiman,Q Majeed,N D Ibrahim

doi:10.5923/j.ijaf.20120201.09

Abstract

Plant powders prepared from five plant species were tested under constant conditions at 30 Â± 2â and 60 - 65% r. h. for their ability to protect sorghum grains against Sitophilus zeamais in storage. Doses at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0g and 0.12g of the check (permethrin (0.6%) were applied for assessments of adult mortality, emergence and damage. Leaf powders of E. balsamifera, J. curcas and L. inermis gave the highest adult mortality (60.0 - 100%), while peel powder of C. sinensis and leaf powder of L. hastata recorded 47.50 - 82.50% adult mortality. Least adult emergence (0.00%) was observed when 2.0g of J. curcas was applied, while the highest (57.82%) was obtained from 0.5g L. hastata. All the plant powders showed significant (p < 0.05) adult mortality against S. zeamais with weevil perforation index (WPI) of < 50.00. This study was designed to observe the possibility of using plants parts to reduce grain damage caused by insect pests during storage.

Highlights

Guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is one of the major cereal crops widely grown in Nigeria, and a very important staple food for the populace in the northern part of the country (Tashikalma et al, 2010)
A part form the control which gave 15.00% mean mortality, only C. sinensis and L. hastata at 0.5g were observed to give less than 50.00% adult mortality
Least adult emergence (0.00%) was observed when the sorghum grains were treated with J. curcas at 2.0g dose, while L. hastata gave the highest emergence (57.82%) at 0.5g dose

Summary

Introduction

Guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is one of the major cereal crops widely grown in Nigeria, and a very important staple food for the populace in the northern part of the country (Tashikalma et al, 2010). Boiled guinea corn is one of the simplest uses and small, corneous grains are normally desired for this type of food product. The whole grain may be ground into flour or decorticated before grinding to produce either a fine particle product or flour, which is used in various traditional foods (Leder, 2004). It is a very valuable industrial crop for non-alcoholic drink as well as confectionery industry in Nigeria (Baiyengunhi and Fraser, 2009)

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Results