PJB-2024-421
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ACETONE PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST MAIZE WEEVIL (SITOPHILUS ZEAMAIS MOTSCHULSKY) (CURCULIONIDAE: COLEOPTERA) ON STORED MAIZE CROP
MUHAMMAD MAMOON UR RASHID
Abstract
Chemical insecticides are generally employed for the control of insect pests but due to rising concerns about human and environmental health there is a dire need to develop alternate eco-friendly control measures such as use of plant-based insecticides. The use of indigenous plant extracts as plant-based insecticides has been proved to be eco-friendly and safe to protect the grains during storage. In present investigations, 20-gram seeds of maize were treated with acetone extracts prepared from leaves of Calotropis procera, seeds of Azadirachta indica), fruits of Citrullus colocynthis and Caralluma turberculata, rhizomes of Curcuma longa and Allium sativum at six different concentrations, in the laboratory at 27±20C, 65± 2% R.H. Ten pairs of weevil adults were introduced in 200 ml transparent plastic jars. The experiment was replicated five times following a completely randomized design. The present study demonstrated that the acetone extracts prepared from A. indica and C. longa plants significantly prolonged the developmental duration, inhibited the progeny production of individuals, reduction in grain damage and weight loss and also reduced the life span of F1 adults. The longest developmental duration of 55.00 days was observed on maize grains treated with the maximum concentration (3.0% of A. indica extracts followed by 51.60 days on C. longa extracts. The minimum number of (10.00 and 12.00) F1 adults emerged from grains treated with maximum concentration of A. indica and C. longa acetone extracts. The least percent infestation (1.05 and 2.22%) minimum weight loss (0.96 and 1.04%), minimum adult longevity (16.00 and 18.40 days) was also observed on maize grains treated with maximum concentration of A. indica and C. longa acetone extracts compared to 45.40 days adult longevity on untreated maize grains.
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