Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection (2007) 114, 30-36

E.N. Nukenine, C. Adler and C. Reichmuth (2007)
Efficacy evaluation of plant powders from Cameroon as post-harvest grain protectants against the infestation of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection 114 (1), 30-36
Abstract: Dried, powdered leaves of four plant species (Eucalyptus saligna, Lippia adoensis, Plectranthus glandulosus and Steganotaenia araliacea), collected in the Adamawa province of Cameroon, were tested under laboratory conditions for their ability to protect stored maize from attack by Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. The grains were admixed with the powders at four rates (5, 10, 20 and 40 g/kg) for the assessment of mortality over a 32-day period, as well as for F₁ progeny production, population increase and damage evaluation. Weevil mortality generally increased over time for all the plant powders and at all content levels. A maximum of 100% mortality was recorded for P. glandulosus at contents of 20 g/kg and 40 g/kg, for 16 and 32 days post exposure, respectively. Sixteen-day LC₅₀s were 8.6 g/kg for P. glandulosus and 17.2 g/kg for S. araliacea. E. saligna achieved 56% mortality at the highest content after 32 days post exposure, while maximum mortality for L. adoensis was 19%. But for L. adoensis, the powders considerably reduced F₁ progeny production, population increase and grain damage, with complete protection of the grains provided only by P. glandulosus at contents of 10 g/kg or higher. These results suggest that powdered leaves of P. glandulosus and S. araliacea may be of high value in grain storage against S. zeamais, especially in subsistence agriculture where the plants are locally available to farmers with little resources to meet the high cost of pesticides.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Elias Nukenine, Cornel S. Adler

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitophilus zeamais	Stored grain	Cameroon