Research Article - Journal of Agricultural Science and Botany (2022) Volume 6, Issue 6

Efficacy of botanical plant extracts against Maize Weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Background:The maize weevil, S. zeamais Motschulsky is considered as the most notorious pest of stored grains. It is an internal feeder of grains and a female of maize weevil, that damages the grain by making a hole in the grain and laying eggs inside. The studies were conducted to investigate the biological activities of aqueous extracts of five botanicals viz. Hareer (Terminalia chebula), Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi), Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), Paneer (Withania coagulans), and Dhamasa (Fagonia indica) against maize weevil under laboratory conditions. For the evaluation of biological activities, the data were recorded on the days to adult emergence, total adult emergence, percent infestation, weight loss, adult longevity, and adult sex ratio.

Results: The results revealed that the maximum number of 35.00 days to adult emergence of maize weevil was recorded when it was reared on maize grain treated with N. tabacum extracts which were statistically non-significant (32.00 days) on maize grains with T. ammi extracts. A maximum number of 25.66 days to adult emergence were recorded on untreated maize grains. The maximum number of 50.00 total adult emergence were recorded on maize grains treated with T. ammi aqueous extracts. The maximum (26.00) percent infestation were recorded when maize grains were treated with T. chebula aqueous extracts. The minimum (11.00%) weight loss was recorded in maize grains treated with N. tabacum extracts whereas; the maximum (16.00%) weight loss was recorded on maize grains treated with T. chebula aqueous extracts.

Conclusion: Overall, maximum adult longevity was recorded when weevils were reared on untreated maize grains. The plant aqueous extracts of N. tabacum and W. coagluans at 3% concentration should be used for the safer control of maize weevil.

Author(s): Muhammad Mamoon-ur-Rashid1, Habib Ali2

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