EFFICACY OF SOME SPICES AS MAIZE GRAIN PROTECTANTS AGAINST SITOPHILUS ZEAMAIS MOTSCH

Abstract

Studies were carried out to determine the efficacy of three spices (Allium sativum L., Capsicum frutescens L., and Zingiber officinale Rosc.) against Sitophilus zeamais reared on maize grains. Application rates of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g of each of A. sativum, C. frutescens and Z. officinale and 0.12 g of Permethrin were applied to 20 g of maize grains infested with S. zeamais under controlled conditions of 30 ± 2°C and 65 ± 5% R.H. In all the treatments, 100% mortality of adult S. zeamais reared on maize was obtained. The effect of the spices on adult mortality was significantly different (p<0.05) between the powdered spices and the control. The effect of the different spices applied at varying rates on grain damage caused by S. zeamais was significantly (p<0.05) different with the highest difference (23.22%) in the 1.5 g treatment of C. frutescens and Z. officinale and the least (10.00%) from treatments of 0.5 g of Z. officinale and A. sativum respectively. The findings of this study indicate that the selected spices showed potential in reducing maize grain damage caused by S. zeamais.