Browsing by Author "Alemnew, Yeshiwork"

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    Studies on the Management of Maize Weevil (Sitophilus Zeamais L.) Using Botanicals on Maize Grain in Storage
    (Addis Ababa University, 2017-06) Alemnew, Yeshiwork; Getu, Emana (PhD)
    The production and storage of maize are threatened by a wide range of pre-and post harvest pests like stalk borer, Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella Olivier), and Sitophilus spp among others. The current experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of leaf and seed powder of four botanical plants (Azadirachta indica Juss, Lantana camara L., Jatropha curcas L., Croton macrostachys Hochst) at four concentrations against maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motsch.) on stored maize grains under laboratory conditions. For comparison, malathion 5% dust as a standard check and untreated check were used. The experiment was designed in a completely randomized design in three replications. The experiment was conducted under room temperature of 250c‒280c and relative humidity of 68.5% ‒74.5 % at Kombolcha Plant Health Clinic Laboratory. Powders of each plant component were then mixed thoroughly with 200 gram grains in plastic jars roofed with muslin cloth and tightened with rubber band. Thirty adult weevils were released in each plastic jar. Number of dead weevils, F1 progeny, percent protection from F1 progeny, weight loss, and damaged seed and number of germinated seed were recorded after treatment application. Data were transformed prior to analyses. Transformed data were subjected to ANOVA in SAS software. All botanical powder significantly resulted in weevil mortality, F1 progeny reduction, low seed damage and weight loss. The botanical powders did not affect the germination capacity of maize seed. J.curcas seed powder and A. indica seed powder were highly significant than the rest of the treatments which was comparable with malathion 5% dust (P <0.05) in all of the parameters, while L. camara and C. macrostachyus was the least effective compared to the botanicals and the standard check, but significantly (p<0.05) better than the untreated check (P <0.05). In general, J. curcas seed powder and A. indica seed powder found to be the most effective treatment against maize weevil on stored maize grain. However, further investigation of those plant powders under real storage conditions and their long term (chronic) toxicity on mammals and beneficial organisms are needed. Consequently, the current result should reach the stakeholders mainly farmers through extension agents. Key words: Botanicals, S.zeamais, Rates, Maize, untreated check.