Efficacy of Parkia biglobosa for the control of insect pest in smoked dried Clarias gariepinus

Abstract

Investigation into the control of insect pests and improvement of the keeping quality of Clarias gariepinus smoked with Parkia biglobosa parts and products was attempted in this study. The phytochemical parameters of P. biglobosa Charcoal (PBC), Bark (PBB), Leaf (PBL), and Wood (PBW) were done and used to smoke dry forty (40) pieces of table size C. gariepinus (i.e., 10 for each treatment). The smoked fish was then stored for 6 months to monitor insect pest infestation, organoleptic parameters, and its keeping quality. The result of phytochemicals showed that the PBW had the highest value of phenol (4.21mg/g), saponin (6.44mg/g), tannin 3.76mg/g) and alkaloid (2.66mg/g). PBC on the other hand had the least value of phenol (2.17mg/g), while saponin, tannin, and alkaloids were not detected. The organoleptic assessment was in favour of the PBC compared to the other treatments in terms of colour, appearance, flavour, taste, smell, and general acceptability (5.32). However, drying the fish with the PBL gave the least organoleptic assessment. Regardless, there was evidence of deterioration as the storage time advanced in all treatments. The insect pest detected during the storage period was Dermestes maculatus and infestation was most severe when the fish were smoked with PBC and least with PBW. This pest infestation was observed to increase as the storage time increased. Although the findings of this study suggest that PBW is best for smoke-drying C. gariepinus, it also demonstrated the potential of PBB as an alternative fuel source. This alternative can be adopted to reduce the competitive use of wood.