Toxicity Effect of Xylopiaaethiopica Seed Powder in the Control of Insect Pest of Maize

Akhideno L.O, Adeyemi T.O.A, Ogboru R.O., Owoeye E.A.

Abstract: Xylopiaaethiopica is a slim, tall, aromatic and evergreen tree belonging to the family Annonaceae. The efficacy of its seed powder in the control of Situphiluszeamais (Maize weevil) was investigated in the Science Laboratory Department of Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. The seed powder was applied at the rates of 0 (control), 10, 25, 50 and 100 (gkg-1). The results obtained showed thatXylopiaaethiopica seed powder at 25gkg-1 - 100gkg-1were effective in the control of Situphiluszeamaisat 0.01 % level of significance. Thetrial revealed very strong insecticidal action of X. aethiopica on maize weevil. Furthermore, the efficacy of this insecticidal action on S. zeamaisincreased with increasing concentration of the X. aethiopica seed powder with 100gkg-1 giving the highest mortality rate, residual action and egg hatchability of 87.15 %, 78 % and 0 % respectively. This finding is critical to resource poor farmers in developing countries who will find this trial practicable and affordable.

Keywords: Xylopiaaethiopica seed powder, aromatic, maize weevils Sitophiluszeamais