Evaluation of botanical powders and extracts from Nigerian plants as protectants of maize grains against maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) [Coleoptera: Curculionidae]

Monitoring mortality, seed viability tolerance, toxicological and histopathological effects of powder of Syzygium aromaticum dried flower bud used for postharvest control of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky infestation of maize grains

“…Ultimately, S. aromaticum flower bud contains about 18% of essential oil which comprises eugenol, eugenol acetate and β-cariofileno (Jirovetz et al, 2006) [13] . Postharvest phases of maize (Zea mays L.) grain is characterised with major challenge posed by S. zeamais, the most important storage insect pest of maize (Nwosu, 2018; Ileke et al, 2020) [17,10] . Maize grain is so important; therefore any shortage due to insect pest attack will affect the world.…”

“…Maize grain is staple and consumed by man for survival, it is used industrially to manufacture an array of products and traded locally and internationally for financial credit and economic growth (Nwosu et al, 2015; Ileke et al, 2020) [14,10] . Unequivocally, S. zeamais pest causes different degrees of damage to stored maize grains which results to agronomic, food security and commercial problems.…”

“…The problems emanating from S. zeamis and its proclivity to destroy maize have attracted much attention and there is need to provide sustainable solution. Chemical insecticides used conventionally to tackle S. zeamais in stored maize are effective but bad consequences undermine their benefits (Nwosu et al, 2016; Ileke et al, 2020) [15,10] . At present, research has focussed on plant materials as alternatives to conventional synthetic insecticides because plant materials are known to pose lower danger to man and his environment.…”

Entomotoxicity of some agro-wastes against cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae] infesting cowpea seeds in storage

“…Furthermore, the powders and the ashes may also cause the inability of the insect larvae to fully cast off their old exoskeleton that typically remained linked to the posterior part of the abdomen ( Oigiangbe et al., 2010 ; Ileke, 2019 ; Ileke et al., 2020a ; b ; Obembe et al., 2020 ). The phytochemicals contained in the powder of the three agricultural wastes could also reduce adult emergence because some of the allelochemicals found in the powder of the wastes had been reported to be capable of disrupting insect life cycle ( Yang et al., 2006 ; Oigiangbe et al., 2010 ; Ileke, 2019 ; Ileke et al., 2020a ; b ; Obembe et al., 2020 ).…”

“…Agriculture is one of the oldest practices known to man and it has been the major backbone of human existence and development of many countries ( Ashamo and Ogungbite 2014 ; Ileke, 2019 ; Ileke et al., 2020a , Ileke et al., 2020b ; Obembe et al., 2020 ). Adeyemo et al.…”