Feeding Deterrence Effects of Defatted Jojoba (Simmondisa chinensis) Meal Against Indian Gerbil, Tatera indica (Hardwicke)

Abstract

In search for safe and eco-friendly management of rodent pests a number of phyto-chemicals have been evaluated as repellent, antifertility agent, antifeedant and toxicant etc. Protein rich residue of seed of Jojoba (Simmondisa chinensis) known as defatted jojoba meal is reported to possess marked suppressive effect on food intake in a variety of animal species. In present study the defatted jojoba meal at a concentration of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 % in pearl millet bait (w/w basis) was evaluated for its anti-rodent properties against Tatera indica, a predominant rodent pest of Indian subcontinent. Under no-choice condition the bait consumption during treatment period of 7 days was significantly reduced (3.01 ± 0.40–4.76 ± 0.14 g/100 g bwt/day) in comparison to pre-treatment plain bait consumption (9.33 ± 0.73–10.37 ± 0.29 g/100 g bwt/day). At higher dosages 50 % gerbils died. Besides, weight reduction in the range of 10.63–16.67 % was also observed. In choice test mean consumption of treated food was also significantly reduced (0.64 ± 0.28–1.44 ± 0.20 g/100 g bwt/day) in comparison to plain bait (5.80 ± 0.18–8.80 ± 0.29 g/100 g bwt/day) during 7 days of treatment period. Jojoba treated pearl millet bait when offered with plain sorghum bait, after an exposure period of 5 days left an imprinting effect on Indian gerbil which led to aversion towards plain pearl millet bait for 10–11 days. The findings showed that jojoba defatted meal exert strong dose dependant deterrence in Indian gerbils and also induces condition aversion learning behavior in the gerbils.