Evaluation of Oil Extracts from Three Indigenous Botanicals against Field Pest of Solanum Species

Abstract

Oil extract of three plant insecticides, Acalypha godseffiana, Annona muricata and Petiveria alliaceae were evaluated as protectant against field pest of three major Solanum species cultivated in Nigeria. The experimental design was laid out in a completely randomized block design with each treatment replicated three times. The results indicated low level in severity of shoot damage among Solanum macrocarpon bio-pesticide treated plants and their interactions. Higher fruit damage severity (13.93%) was reflected in untreated S. macrocarpon interactions. Findings from the study reflected a coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.18 between plant oil treatments and fruit yield of eggplant species, which implies that 18% of the variance in fruit yield of eggplant species can be attributed to the plant oil treatments. Further screening of the active components of the botanicals for insecticidal potency is hereby recommended.

A Review of Insect Pest Management in Vegetable Crop Production in Nigeria

“…Example of systemic pesticides used in Nigeria include neonicotinoids/nitroguanidine (imidacloprid) and dimethoate (locally systemic). The effectiveness of these synthetic chemicals in the control of vegetable insect pests has been reported by several workers [ 8 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ] ( Table 2 ). Umeh et al [ 18 ] noted that inappropriate application of insecticides and the use of wrong dosages resulted in insect control failures in tomato production.…”

“…Many of the insecticides used for vegetable cultivation in Nigeria have a contact mode of action and are lethal to specific insects once absorbed via contact; for example, dimethoate, carbaryl, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and lambda cyhalothrin. Other insecticides applied to protect vegetables have systemic action and are soluble in water, resulting in being absorbed and circulated in plant tissues where they can be picked up by insects [ 8 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Example of systemic pesticides used in Nigeria include neonicotinoids/nitroguanidine (imidacloprid) and dimethoate (locally systemic).…”