Article

A Study On The Mortality Effects Of Fourteen Botanicals Against (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) Infestation On Cowpea (Vigna unguilata L. Walp.)

Abstract

An investigation to assess the effectiveness of locally available botanical in the control of cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus L.) was conducted in the Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri. The experimental materials consist of three local varieties of cowpea namely Chadi bean, Owa bean, and Bokologi bean treated with the fourteen botanicals replicated three times. The adult C. maculatus was obtained from old cultures in the laboratory. The treatment including Moringa oleifera leaf powder, M. oleifera bark powder, Balanites aegyptiaca leaf powder, B. aegyptiaca bark powder, garlic seed powder, Capsicum spp fruit powder, chillic pepper fruit powder, ground nut oil, neem seed oil, sesame seed oil, melon seed oil, bitter leaf powder, tobacco leaf powder, Calotropic procera leaf powder. The concentration use in this research was 5 g, 10 g and 15 g making 30 g. The study showed that the oil extract is capable of killing the adult C. maculatus at any concentration. Mortality percentage was taken after 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168 and 192 hours on bruchid after treatment has been inoculated in the experimental designs to assess mortality in each beans. There was significant difference in percentage on bokologi bean treated with botanical against C. maculatus, at every hour. Likewise, C. maculatus in Chadi bean was reduced by B. aegyptiaca bark powder, M. oleifera leaf powder, B. aegyptiaca leaf powder. Garlic seed powder in Owa beans showed excellent result at 192 hours and least mortality at 24 hours.

Keywords: Botanicals, Essential oils, powder, Callosobruchus maculatus, Mortality, Adult emergence.