Farmers perception of problems in the cultivation of selected leaf vegetables in South Western Nigeria

The development of alternative strategies for sustainable pests’ management in vegetable production (using insecticides of plant origin) is particularly important in a country like Nigeria where synthetic insecticides are not readily available and farmer s are poorly equipped to handle them. This research was conducted to unravel farmers’ perception of insect pest activities as a constraint to vegetable production and to ascertain the most important pests and indigenous methods of control (using plant extracts). Baseline surveys were conducted using well structured questionnaire on farmers’ plots in farming communities of Akure North and South Local Government Areas of Ondo State. Results from the study affirmed, that all the farmers had the problem of pests on their farms. They have ranked Podagrica sjostedti, P. uniforma, Sylepta derogata, Dsydercus superstitiosus, and Zonocerous variegata as the most important insect pests of the selected leaf vegetables: Amaranthus hybridus, Celosia argentea, and Corchorus olitorius. The results further indicated that 76% of the farmers were aware of the use of indigenous methods of control (using different plant extracts) for the control of pests. The study showed that there was no significant association between education and the use of plant extracts. However, age, sex, and farming experience influenced the use of the plant extracts for insect pest control on the respondents’ farm

Insecticidal Evaluation of Bridelia Micrantha and Dalbergia Lactea Aqueous Extracts for the Control of Podagrica Uniforma (Jacoby) and Nisotra Dilecta (Jacoby) (Coleoptera: Chysomelidae) Infestation on Okra

Insect pest infestation is a major factor militating against okra production and farmers generally adopt synthetic insecticides for its management. A field trial was undertaken to evaluate the insecticidal potency of Bridelia micrantha and Dalbergia lactea for the management of Podagrica uniforma (Jacoby) and Nisotra dilecta (Jacoby) insect pest of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). The treatments consisted of aqueous leaf extracts of Bridelia micrantha and Dalbergia lactea and Cypermethrin as check; laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design and repli-cated three times. Data was collected on insect population before treatment application and 3 days after spraying of insecticides at 28, 35, 42, 56 days after planting (DAP). Yield parameters data collected were number of fruits and fruit weight. Results obtained showed that the plant extracts exhibited effectiveness in reducing the insect population and improved okra fruit yield compared to Cypermethrin. The order of effectiveness in decreasing sequence was found to be Cypermethrin ˃ D. lacteal ˃ B. micrantha. D. lacteal and B. micrantha crude extracts could be explored as promising insecticidal agents to provide valuable alternatives to chemical control of insect infestation on okra. Further study is recommended to determine the chemical constituents responsible for the plant insecticidal activity

Toxicidad fumigante para Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) de bulbos trozados de especies Allium.

Fumigant toxicity of crushed fresh bulbs of Allium sativum L. and A. cepa L. to the Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius), a major pest of stored cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) seeds was assessed under laboratory conditions in Akure, Nigeria. In the tests, 20 g of infested cowpea seeds were suspended in a piece of muslin cloth, over an amount of crushed bulb in a container with a tightly fitted lid. Adult emergence was completely prevented from freshly laid eggs of C. maculatus on cowpea seeds that was fumigated with 6.0 g or more of crushed bulbs of A. sativum. Such fumigated seeds were not holed at all. Other amounts of A. sativum tested (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 g) significantly reduced C. maculatus adult emergence from fumigated eggs and seed holing in comparison with the control. Crushed A. sativum was ineffective in preventing adult emergence from fumigated C. maculatus larvae in seeds. The fumigant effect of crushed A. cepa did not kill all C. maculatus eggs. An amount of 7.0 g significantly reduced C. maculatus adult emergence from fumigated eggs and seed holing in comparison with the control. There is good prospect in using crushed bulbs of A. sativum as fumigant in C. maculatus control in stored cowpea seeds.Se evaluó la toxicidad fumigante de bulbos frescos trozados de Allium sativum L. y A. cepa L. sobre Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius), una importante plaga de semilla almacenada de caupí Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. bajo condiciones de laboratorio en Akure, Nigeria. En las pruebas, 20 g de semillas infestadas se suspendieron en un trozo de tela sobre cierta cantidad de bulbos trozados en un contenedor con una tapa ajustada. Se previno completamente la emergencia de adultos desde huevos recién puestos de C. maculatus en semillas de caupí que se fumigaron con 6,0 g o más de bulbos de A. sativum. Estas semillas fumigadas no estaban ahuecadas. Otras cantidades de A. sativum probadas (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 y 5.0 g) redujeron significativamente la emergencia de adultos de C. maculatus desde huevos fumigados y el perforamiento de la semilla en comparación con el control. A. sativum trozado fue inefectivo en la prevención de emergencia de adultos desde larvas fumigadas de C. maculatus en semillas. El efecto fumigante A. cepa trozada no mató los huevos de C. maculatus. Una cantidad de 7,0 g redujo significativamente la emergencia de C. maculatus adultos desde huevos fumigados y el perforamiento de semilla en comparación con el control. Los bulbos trozados de A. sativum se presentan como una buena alternativa como fumigante en el control de C. maculatus en semillas almacenadas de caupí