Efficacy of Moringa oliefera Lam. leaf and seed powder on postharvest Cowpea Seed bruchid (C. maculatus Fab.) during Storage

Liamngee K* , Fayinminu A. O , Agbatar B. L , Ornenge B. I , San S. J , Ibrahim E. M

Abstract

The efficacy of Moringa oliefera Lam. leaf and Seed powder on Cowpea Seed Bruchid (C. maculatus) during Storage was investigated. Two groups of cowpea; one free from weevil infestation and the other consisting of highly infested seeds were obtained from farmers in Makurdi. Moringa oliefera leaf and seed powders were produced by drying the leaves and seeds of the Moringa plant, grinding it with pestle and mortar and sieving to get fine powder; after which three concentrations of 0g, 30g and 45g were prepared for assessment tests. Five pairs each of Callosobruchus maculatus F. consisting of males and females were introduced into plastic containers containing 300g each of wholesome cowpea seeds and left undisturbed for seven days; after which the parent weevils were removed and eggs laid by the parent weevils were allowed to develop. Emerged progenies were introduced into the various treatment levels and left for a period of 28days after which data on quality parameters were taken. The experiment was arranged in 3×2 factorial in a completely randomized design. Days, taken for egg laying by seed bruchid on cowpea was 4days while that for progeny emergence was 23days. Moringa oliefera seed powder produced significantly higher weight, germination and insect mortality (36.65g, 65.75% and 5.22 respectively) compared to Moringa leaf powder (36.28, 65.78% and 4.44). Also significantly higher weight, germination and insect mortality was recorded for cowpea seeds treated with 45g Moringa powder (39.33, 84.67 and 7.83 respectively) compared to 30g (37.92, 61.00 and 4.33 respectively) and 0% (32.16, 43.33 and 2.33 respectively) while higher insect population and grain with holes was recorded for grains treated with 0g of Moringa powder (28.00 and 31.50) compared to 30g (15.67 and 18.50) and 45g (13.50 and 13.33), respectively. Moringa oliefera leaf and seed powder was an effective insecticidal agent against the cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus. They have significant effect on weight maintenance, suppression of weevil population, increasing mortality rate of weevil, prevention of holes in grains and enhancing germination performance which is an indicator of crop viability.

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The efficacy of Moringa oliefera Lam. leaf and Seed powder on Cowpea Seed Bruchid (C. maculatus) during Storage was investigated. Two groups of cowpea; one free from weevil infestation and the other consisting of highly infested seeds were obtained from farmers in Makurdi. Moringa oliefera leaf and seed powders were produced by drying the leaves and seeds of the Moringa plant, grinding it with pestle and mortar and sieving to get fine powder; after which three concentrations of 0g, 30g and 45g were prepared for assessment tests. Five pairs each of Callosobruchus maculatus F. consisting of males and females were introduced into plastic containers containing 300g each of wholesome cowpea seeds and left undisturbed for seven days; after which the parent weevils were removed and eggs laid by the parent weevils were allowed to develop. Emerged progenies were introduced into the various treatment levels and left for a period of 28days after which data on quality parameters were taken. The experiment was arranged in 3×2 factorial in a completely randomized design. Days, taken for egg laying by seed bruchid on cowpea was 4days while that for progeny emergence was 23days. Moringa oliefera seed powder produced significantly higher weight, germination and insect mortality (36.65g, 65.75% and 5.22 respectively) compared to Moringa leaf powder (36.28, 65.78% and 4.44). Also significantly higher weight, germination and insect mortality was recorded for cowpea seeds treated with 45g Moringa powder (39.33, 84.67 and 7.83 respectively) compared to 30g (37.92, 61.00 and 4.33 respectively) and 0% (32.16, 43.33 and 2.33 respectively) while higher insect population and grain with holes was recorded for grains treated with 0g of Moringa powder (28.00 and 31.50) compared to 30g (15.67 and 18.50) and 45g (13.50 and 13.33), respectively. Moringa oliefera leaf and seed powder was an effective insecticidal agent against the cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus. They have significant effect on weight maintenance, suppression of weevil population, increasing mortality rate of weevil, prevention of holes in grains and enhancing germination performance which is an indicator of crop viability.