Evaluation of the potential of Moringa seed oil (Moringa oleifera Lam) to control groundnut Bruchid (Caryedon serratus Olivier) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in Yola, Nigeria

Abstract

Laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the potency of moringa seed oil (MSO) to control the groundnut bruchid (Caryedon serratus). The bioassays were conducted at the rates of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5ml/100g and an untreated control laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in three replications. The ability of the MSO to protect both unshelled and shelled groundnut as assessed for mortality after1, 7 and 14 DAI. Eggs laid, adult emergence, progeny development and weight loss of unshelled and shelled groundnut was also determined. The result indicates that MSO at rate of 1.5ml showed significantly higher (P<0.05) mean mortality of 4.67 and 4.00 (80% and 60%) on unshelled and shelled groundnut, respectively at 1 day after treatment (DAT) compared to control. Mortality increases with increase in amount of MSO. Eggs laid and adult emergence were significantly different (P<0.05) among the treatments, with the highest egg laid and adult emergence in the control treatment of 360, 180 and 400, 225 in unshelled and shelled groundnut, respectively. However, these indicate that with increase in the amount of MSO, number of eggs and adult emergence reduces in both unshelled and shelled groundnut. Highest percent weight loss was recorded in the control with 54.67 and 64.63% for unshelled and shelled groundnut, respectively. Generally, different rates of treatments significantly protected both unshelled and shelled groundnut against C. serratus though, the effect increases with increase in the amount of MSO. It therefore suggests that MSO can be used as a good alternative to pesticides for the control of C. serratus in both unshelled and shelled groundnut.