Ethnobotanical Investigation of Insecticidal Plants and Evaluation of the Insecticidal Activity of Capsicum chinense on Sitophilus zeamaïs of Maize and Aphis craccivora of Groundnuts: Case of Boffa, Boké Region (Republic of Guinea) ()
1. Introduction
The insects encountered in foodstuffs stored in warehouses, in this case maize and groundnuts, are many and varied. They can cause significant losses on the quality and quantity of products stored in the range of 5% to 10% in temperate regions and 20% to 30% in tropical regions [1] [2]. Maize and groundnuts are among the most important cereal crops in the world followed by the others (wheat and rice). In the Republic of Guinea, 30% of production is destroyed between harvest and consumption caused by insect pests [3]. In December 1988 in the prefecture of Pita, a vast research program on a majority of insect pests was initiated by the Guinean government to be able to reduce their damage. This program found that, the most destructive insects of these cereals were: Sitophilus zeamaïs and Aphis craccivora of the peanut [4]. Many aromatic plants such as Lamiaceaes, Solanaceaes have been used in traditional medecine, and instead of chemical insecticides for reasons of health poisoning of users caused by insecticides of chemical origin, or lack of means for populations to buy chemical insecticides as well as environmental pollution by these chemical insecticides [5] - [10]. Indeed, we recently published the insecticidal effect of two plants that are Hyptis suaveolens and Hyptis spicigera on corn kernels infected with Sitophilus zeamaïs [3]. As an extension of our studies, we report in this work, an ethnobotanical survey of some plants with insecticidal virtues was used by the farmers of Boffa and determined the insecticidal activity of Capsicum chinense on Sitophilus zeamaïs of corn and Aphis craccivora of peanuts followed by the determination of the germination rates of corn and peanut grains infected with Sitophilus zeamaïs and Aphis craccivora and treated with Capsicum chinense powder.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Presentation of the Study Area
Boffa Prefecture is an administrative subdivision of the Republic of Guinea. Located in the west of the country on the Atlantic coast, in the natural region of Maritime Guinea, this prefecture is part of the administrative region of Boké with an area of 910,000 ha = 9100 km2 (10˚11'03" north, 14˚02'38" west). Distant 150 kilometers from the Guinean capital, Conakry, Boffa has nearly 227,217 inhabitants and a density of 25 inhab./km2 in 2016. Its capital is the city of Boffa. The prefecture is divided into eight sub-prefectures: Boffa-Centre; Kolia; Douprou; Koba; Lisso; Mankountan; Tamita; Tugnifili.
2.2. Framework of Studies
The Laboratory of Organic Chemistry of the Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, the laboratory of the National Office of Quality Control of Matoto Conakry, served as a framework for studies.
2.3. Ethnobotanical Investigations
Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out using a series of questionnaires pre-developed on a survey sheet designed for this purpose. This investigation was conducted in some localities of the prefecture of Boffa for 4 months. The collection of information covered respondents, pests and insecticidal and medicinal plants in selected Districts of Kolia and Tugnifili (Table 1). On the survey sheet used was distributed farmers, herbalists, breeders, option leaders according to Districts, method of acquisition, age group, by socio-professional category, modes of use of the parts used, citation frequencies, scientific and vernacular names, the list of plants (Tables 1-5). Among the most cited plants, Capsicum chinense was the most cited; it is for this reason that we have specifically chosen this plant in this study.
2.4. Collection of Capsicum chinense Fruit
The fruits of Capsicum chinense have been the cause of its frequency of citations. The fruits of Capsicum chinense were collected in Boffa and surrounding areas in January 2019. They were subjected to drying in the shade and in the open air for 30 days. Then they were pounded and sieved. The powders thus obtained were used as raw materials for the evaluation of their insecticidal activity.
2.5. Collection of Uninfected Corn Kernels and Peanuts
The corn and groundnut kernels) that were used for this test were purchased at the yenguema market in (Boffa) prefecture. These purchased grains were sorted to remove bad grains, foreign matter, and then washed and dried at room temperature in the laboratory for 72 hours. Then, a second drying at 40˚C in the oven for 15 minutes removed residual contaminants.
2.6. Breeding of Sitophilus zeamaïs and Aphis craccivora (Maize and Groundnuts)
The maize and groundnut kernels infected with Sitophilus zeamaïs and Aphis craccivora were purchased at the yenguema market (Boffa), and their farms continued under the ambient conditions of the Matoto natural and industrial products quality control laboratory (temperature 20˚C ± 40˚C) and humidity in the vicinity (81% ± 5%).
Procedure: Weigh 6 kg of corn kernels (or peanuts) already infested with Sitophilus zeamaïs or Aphis craccivora of peanuts and placed in glass jars then cover with a porous fabric for better aeration and prevent insects from escaping. Keep these jars at room temperature in the laboratory for 30 days away from foreign infestations. Then, sift to eliminate the adult Sitophilus zeamaïs and Aphis craccivora and continue rearing with the grains infested by the eggs for 29 days to obtain new insects.
2.7. Experimental Methods
A total of 42 jars were used for this experiment; they were arranged in 02 batches of 21 and each bio-insecticide was repeated three times. Of these 02 lots, 01 was intended to study the insecticidal effect of Capsicum chinense powders, 01 others to assess the damage caused by Sitophilus zeamaïs (or Aphis craccivora) for 120 hours. The jars were kept in a well-ventilated room under laboratory conditions.
2.8. Infestation of Maize and Groundnut Kernels (AGRAR-2013 Method)
Procedure: According to the Food Africa Programme-African Research on agriculture, food, and nutrition method [11], 100 g of non-infested maize (or peanut) grains were weighed and then introduced into the jars previously marked as: T0 (control), Fch1, Fch2, Fch3 (the powder of the fruits of Capsicum chinense). Then weigh 2 g, 4 g, 8 g of powder, add to 100 g of homogenized corn or peanut in the jars. Control jars (T0) did not receive treatment [5]. Then introduce into each jar 20 adult insects and cover with a porous cloth for better aeration; sealed with elastic fronds to prevent external contamination.
2.9. Determination of Moisture Content of Uninfected Maize and Groundnuts
Procedure: The moisture levels of the corn and groundnut kernels were determined by the method of complete desiccation in the oven between 100˚C - 105˚C for 3 hours according to the (formula) [12] [13].
(1)
wherein “H%” represents Percentage of humidity; P1; P2 = Weight of capsule and sample before and after drying; Pe = Weight of the test portion.
2.10. Calculation of the Powder Toxicity of Capsicum chinense Fruits
The percentage of mortality was determined using W.S. Abbott’s formula [13] after 5 days of observation of the contents of the jars taking into account the natural mortalities observed in the control jars according to (the formula):
(2)
Mc = Adjusted mortality; Mo = Mortality in treated boxes and Mt = Mortality in control boxes.
2.11. Germination Rate Test
The germination test was performed at the beginning of the experiment on infested grains that were in constant contact with capsicum chinense fruit powders for 6 days [14] [15] [16]. The grains were spread in jars containing soil moistened with water at 26˚C and sealed at laboratory temperature. The germination rate was evaluated by counting sprouted grains versus seeded grains according to (the formula).
(3)
G% = Percentage of germination; NGG = Number of sprouted grains; NGE = Number of seeded grains.
3. Results
3.1. Results of Ethnobotanical Surveys
Our ethnobotanical surveys in the (02) sub-prefectures allowed us to identify 71 people, including 20 women and 51 men (or 71.83%) (Table 1). Indeed, of the 71 respondents who use insecticides of plant origin and their methods of acquisition, 39 (54.93%) acquired on the basis of parental transmission (Table 2). It is also noted that the age of respondents varies from 30 to 70 years (Table 3). The age groups that practice effectively are around 41 - 50 years (39.44%) and 51 - 60 years (29.58%). On the other hand, the other age groups are less represented: 30 - 41 (18.31%) and 61 - 70 (12.67%). The results also show that only 18.31% of respondents were in school compared to 35.25% of farmers; 19.72% marabouts and sage; 15.49% merchants and 8% of traditional hunters (Table 4).
In this ethnobotanical survey, eight (8) native plants with insecticidal effects were identified and grouped into eight families which are: Solanacea (98%), Liliacea (10%), Zingiberaceae (10%), Combretaceae (15%), Labiae (15%), Myrtaceae (16%), Chrysobalanaceae (20%), Lamiaceae (20%) (Table 5). The results of the ethnobotanical survey showed that the plant species most used as an insecticide
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Table 1. Distribution by districts by origin and sex in the Sub-Prefecture of Tugnifili and Kolia.
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Table 2. Distribution by mode of knowledge acquisition.
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Table 3. Distribution by age group and sex.
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Table 4. Distribution by socio-professional categories.
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Table 5. List of plants cited and their frequency of citation.
during the conservation of corn and groundnut grains is: Solanacea (98%), it is followed by the other species. The parts of the plants regularly used are: fruits, bulb, leaves and bark. Table 6 shows the average values of the moisture content of maize and groundnut grains which are respectively: 14.51% and 12.25%. These values are at the limit of appreciation of the moisture content of drugs, which is 14% [12] [13].
3.2. Moisture Content of Maize and Groundnuts
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Table 6. Moisture in corn and groundnut grains
3.3. Insecticidal Effect of Capsicum chinense Powders
Table 7 shows the different doses used of Capsicum chinense powders on Sitophilus zeamaïs and Aphis craccivora as well as the standard deviations for assessing their insecticidal effects, and the photo of the experimental device of jars containing maize and groundnut grains. (Figure 1)
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Table 7. Insecticidal effect (or toxicity) of Capsicum chinense powder.
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Figure 1. Experimental device of jars containing corn kernels.
3.4. Impact of Capsicum Chinense Powder on Germination
Table 8 shows the different doses of Capsicum chinense powder used in the treatment of corn and peanut kernels infected with Aphis Craccivora and Sitophilus zeamaïs and the different germination rates, followed by the Figure 2 showing the stage of three (3) leaves after germination of corn and peanut grains treated with Capsicum chinense powder in the laboratory.
4. Discussion
For this study, 71 persons were identified 20 women and 51 men Table 1. This indicates a predominance of humans in agriculture and the use of plants in the preservation of harvest products. This is in contradiction with studies carried out in Republic of Mali by [17] which gave (71.83%) women who handle medicinal plants of all these forms.
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Table 8. Impact of Capsicum chinense powder on germination.
Indeed, of the 71 respondents who use insecticides of plant origin and their methods of acquisition, 39 (54.93%) acquired on the basis of parental transmission Table 2.
The average moisture content values of corn and groundnut kernels are: 14.51% and 12.25% respectively which is the drug appreciation limit of 14% [13] which are presented in Table 6.
The different results in Table 7, show an effectiveness of Capsicum chinense powder on Aphis Craccivora and Sitophilus zeamaïs at the different doses used; a mortality rate of 80 ± 0.81; 85 ± 0.8. However, the results obtained for maize show a slight difference of (P < 0.05) compared to the results found for groundnuts. For the control, no mortality was recorded because he had not received treatment with Capsicum chinense powder. This indicates that the insecticidal activity of many plants is related to the presence of the essential oils they contain [18] [19].
Objective to germinate corn and peanut grains treated with Capsicum chinense powder, (Figure 2) under laboratory conditions was, to evaluate the possibility of germination of these infected grains and treated with Capsicum chinense powder. During this period, we actually observed their germinations, and the different germination rates varied according to the doses administered. The average germination rates are: 53.33% for infected maize grains treated with Capsicum chinense powder and 72.50% for infected peanut grains and processed Capsicum chinense powder. The grains in the control jars (T0) Table 6 gave identical rates of 1.75%. According to some scientific publication on the germination power of grains show that the decrease in the germination power of seeds can probably be related to many parameters that are in one way or another their heterogeneities, color, weight, size as well as their chemical compositions, ligth [1] [18] [19] [20].
5. Conclusion
This ethnobotanical survey in two sub-prefectures of Boffa identified 71 people, including 20 women and 51 men who grow maize and groundnuts. The age range is: 41 to 61 years. The majority use the parts of the plants to preserve their harvest grains. Eight (8) plants with insecticidal properties frequently mentioned are: Solanacea, Liliacea, Zingiberaceae, Combretaceae, Labiae, Myrtaceae, Chrysobalanaceae, Lamiaceae. And the one most cited as an insecticide in the conservation of corn and groundnut grains is: Solanacea (Capsicum chinense). The insecticide efficacy test of Solanacea powder (Capsicum chinense) was performed on corn and peanut kernels infected with Aphis craccivora and Sitophilus zeamaïs. The average germination rates of these infected maize and peanut grains treated with Capsicum chinense powder are: 53.33%; 72.50% respectively. Untreated corn and peanut kernels significantly lost their germination powers with a rate of 1.75%. The moisture content of corn kernels and groundnuts gave: 14.51%, 12.25% respectively.