Author (s): M. A. Islam1
Email: islam162@yahoo.com
Email: islam162@yahoo.com
Abstract
Plant products have attracted particular attention because of their specificity to insect pests, biodegradable nature, and potential for commercial application. This study was conducted to replace the efficient method to control stored grain pests of cowpea and maize as an alternative replacement of synthetic pesticides. Fruit and seed powders of Capsicum annum L. and Capsicum frutescens L. were evaluated in the laboratory for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) in stored cowpea and Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) in stored maize. C. frutescens seed powder and C. annum seed powder dust were toxic to C. maculatus and S. zeamais at the rate of 2.0 g, 4.0 g and 6.0 g, per 50.0 g cowpea and 50.0 g maize within 72 hrs and 96 hrs respectively. The results revealed the potential of C. frutescens and C. annum seed powders as seed protectants at higher rates, than their ineffective fruit powders in all parameters assessed. Its use as a safe and affordable source of insecticide may provide a sustainable alternative for pest-control in low input agriculture than the hazardous and expensive synthetic insecticides.
Key words: Capsicum annum, Capsicum frutescens, Insect mortality, Callosobruchus maculatus, Sitophilus zeamais.
J. Expt. Biosci. 3(1): January 2012
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