Effect of Capsicum Chinense Powder in the Preservation of Maize and Groundnut Grains in Stock Against Sitophilus Zeamaïs and Aphis Craccivora, Case of the Boke Region (Republic of Guinea)

Abstract

In Guinea, forest resources (native plants) are of great importance to rural populations, who are highly dependent on these native species as they are used in addition to the conservation of agricultural produce for food, pharmacopoeia, fodder, handicrafts, housing and domestic energy. In our previous studies, a total of 14 native plant species were identified, to know Capsicum chinense, Capsicum frustescens, Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum, Capsicum pubescens, Hyptis suaveolens, Hyptis spicigera, Ocimum americanum, Ocimum basilicium, Allium cepal, Zingiber officinal Rosc, Combretummicranthum, Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Azadirachta indica. Over the last two decades, a great deal of work has been carried out to find gentler food protection methods that respect human health and the environment. The most widely used for preserving agricultural produce is Capsicum chinense (98%). Post-harvest losses of these commodities in Guinea, and more particularly in the Boke Region, are still a real problem. The solutions found in this study to combat pests of agricultural stocks were the increasing use of doses (5g; 10g; 15g; 20g) of Capsicum chinense fruit powder against Sitophilus zeamaïs, a pest of maize grain, and Aphis craccivora, a pest of groundnut grain. During evaluation of the insecticidal effects of Capsicum chinense powder, the doses (5g; 10g; 15g and 20g) used per 100 kg of maize and per 100 kg of groundnuts resulted in considerable mortality of Sitophilus zeamaïs and Aphis craccivora.