TITLE:
Evaluation of Piper guineense in the Control of Cowpea Storage Weevils: Implication for Sustainable Credit Advancement
AUTHORS:
Gabriel Adedotun Sunday Benson, Abiodun Oladipupo Joda, Olufemi Sunday Sosanya, Babajimi Olumide Tokoya
KEYWORDS:
Concentration, Cowpea, Efficacy, Storage Weevil, Piper guineense
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.10 No.4,
April
24,
2019
ABSTRACT: The Central Bank of Nigeria Anchored Borrowers Programme efforts geared towards massive production of cowpea and sustainable food security is challenged with post-harvest losses especially due to insect pest infestation in storage. So also, chemical method of pest control posed more health and ecological challenges than food insecurity. This work investigated the effect of Piper guineense on cowpea storage weevil at the agronomy laboratory of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu. Contact toxicity of P. guineense at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 g per 20 g of cowpea seeds in test tubes including a control was observed. The treatment materials exhibited significant efficacy from 24 hours after infestation. P. guineense at 1 g concentration significantly reduced the oviposition potential, egg hatching rate, holes and emergence of adult Callosobruchus maculatus on treated seeds. The powders caused chronic toxicity and inhibit development. All the responses were found to be concentration dependent. Increasing rates of P. guineense increased performance. The implication of these results is discussed and recommendations proffered.