Bioactive effect of Jatropha curcas L. leaf product on Callosobruchus subinnotatus (Pic) infesting stored bambara nut, Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdcourt

Abstract

The research was conducted in the year 2016 at the Entomology laboratory of the Department of Crop Protection, Bayero University Kano to assessed the bioactive effect of physic nut, Jatropha curcas L. leaf powder on Callosobruchus subinnotatus (Pic) infesting stored bambara nut, Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdcourt. The study was also aimed at comparing the effectiveness of the leaf powder with conventional chemical insecticide (pirimiphos-methyl). In a 2×2 factorial experiment, the leaf powder and pirimiphos-methyl were admixed with bambara nut seeds. The first factor (leaves) had two (2) levels (0.0 and 0.5 g/20 g seed) while the second factor (pirimipos-methyl) also had two levels, with and without the standard rate of application (0.00 and 0.01 g/20 g). These were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design and repeated three times. Results showed fumigant, repellant and contact effects were best exhibited in seeds treated with the leaf powder admixed at the rate of 0.5g, but was not significantly different from seeds treated with pirimiphos- methyl. In conclusion, appreciable level of protection on bambara nut seeds was achieved using the leaf powder of J. curcas applied at 0.5 g/20 g bambara nut seeds during storage.

Keywords: Bioactive, Callosobruchus subinnotatus, bambara nut, Jatropha, fumugant