Evaluation of Oil Extracts from Three Indigenous Botanicals against Field Pest of Solanum Species
O. Alamu *
Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria and National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria.
T. I. Ofuya
Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
M. O. Oni
Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
J. E. Idoko
Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
M. O. Ogungbite
Department of Biology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
S. K. Adejobi
Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
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.
Keywords: Solanum, plant oil, botanicals, insecticide, efficacy, food security.