INSECTICIDAL ACTIVITY OF BLACK PEPPER (PIPER NIGRUM) AND PAWPAW (CARICA PAPAYA) SEEDS POWDER AGAINST MAIZE WEEVILS (SITOPHILUS ZEAMAIS)
Abdulrahman M1, Aliyu M1,Zaharaddeen S1, Tijjani A. and Abdullahi, I2.
1Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi P. M. B. 0248, Bauchi
2Department of crop protection Amadu Bello University Zaria
Corresponding Author: abdurrahmanmuhammad39@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Laboratory experiment was carried out to investigate the insecticidal activity of Black piper Pepper nigrum and Pawpaw seed Carica papaya seeds powder against Maize weevils Sitophilus zeamais. The experiment was laid in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) comprising of black pepper seeds (1 g, 3 g and 5 g), pawpaw seed powder (1 g 3 g and 5 g), Spintor Dust and control. Spintor Dust was used a positive control and untreated Maize seeds serving as negative control. These were applied to 100 g healthy maize seeds contained in plastic jars (measuring 4.5 x 6.5 x 8.5 cm). Five pairs of laboratory reared F2 generation of the maize seed weevils (S. zeamais) were introduced into the treated and untreated Cowpea seeds. The open end of the plastic containers was covered with a fine muslin cloth and tied firmly with rubber band and kept at room temperature (29 – 32oC) in the laboratory and were repeated three times. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using NDMRT at 1% and 5% probability level. The results showed that seed treated with (5 g/100g) of P. nigrum recorded the highest (3.66), (4.00) and (2.33) adult mortality of adult S. zeamais after 24, 48 and 72 hours post exposure to the treatments. Similarly, the application of 5 g/100 g and 3 g/100g of P. nigrum significantly reduce oviposition, adult emergence, percentage seed damage, number of exit holes and grain weight lost. Germination of the treated seeds was not affected negatively. The 3 g/100 g of P. nigrum could be recommended as suitable alternatives to chemical pesticides to be used as contact protectants against S. zeamais on stored maize seeds.
Key words: Carica papaya, Control Piper nigrum, Spintor dust, Sitophilus zeamais,
