Effect of Aqueous Extracts of Eucalyptus Globulus, Citrus Sinensis and Musa Sapientium in the Protection of Cowpea Seeds against Callosobruchus Maculatus (F).

Abstract

The insecticidal properties of aqueous extracts of Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus), Citrus sinensis (Sweet orange) and Musa sapientium (Banana) on the cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus was investigated in the laboratory. There were four
treatments namely aqueous extracts of Eucalyptus, Orange, Banana, Control (to help ascertain if the extracts where better than no form of control) and Pirimiphos-methyl as the standard check. Four different concentrations of the treatments namely 0.5ml, 1.0ml, 1.5ml and 2.0ml were applied to 150 seeds (27.9g) of cowpea in a completely randomised design with four replicates per treatment. The following parameters were recorded, adult mortality, number of larvae and pupae, number of F1 progeny emergence and the percentage weight loss. The result of the experiment showed that all the test botanicals significantly reduced the population of the cowpea beetle at P<0.05 when compared to the control. E. globulus at 2.0ml was the most effective of the test plant materials.

Key Words: Aqueous extracts, Eucalyptus globulus, Citrus sinensis, Musa sapientium,