Ability of Chenopodium ambrosoides and Tephrosia vogelii leaf powder to protect bean against infestation of Acanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Tubah, North-West Cameroon C

Ability of Chenopodium ambrosoides and Tephrosia vogelii leaf powder to protect bean against infestation of Acanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Tubah, North-West CameroonC

GOUDOUNGOU J. W.1*, TOFEL H. K. 1, GANGUE T.1, SUH C.2, NUKENINE E. N.3

1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Bamenda, P. O. Box 39 Bambili, Cameroon

2Coordination of annual crops, IRAD Nkolbisson, P.O.Box 2123 Yaounde, Cameroon

3Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, P. O. Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon

* Corresponding author: GOUDOUNGOU J. W., e-mail: winigoudoungou@yahoo.fr, Tel: +237 696843042

Running title: Plant powder efficacy on Acanthoscelides obtectus

Abstract

Acanthoscelides obtectus, bean weevil is one of the most detrimental insect pests on stored bean. The infestation starts from the field and continues during storage. Many control methods are used to reduce the damage caused by this pest. The most used is synthetic residual chemical insecticides, however effective it causes many environmental problems. The search for environmental friendly control methods becomes an imperative. In this issue Chenopodium ambrosoides and Tephrosia vogelii leaf powders were tested on A. obtectus regarding adult toxicity, F1 progeny production, and reduction of grain damage and suppression of population growth. Four contents (4; 8; 16 and 32 g/kg) of each plant powder were mixed with bean grain (Phaseolus vulgaris). The mortality was recorded within 1, 4, 7 and 10 days post exposure. The two leaf powders induced significant mortality of adults. Total mortality (100%) was recorded by C. ambrosoides leaf at 16 g/kg from 4 days post exposure. The same performance was observed for T. vogelii at its highest content (32 g/kg) within 10 days post-exposure. The LC50 values within 10 days were 1.48 g/kg and 2.05g/kg respectively for C. ambrosoides and T. vogelii. The F1 progeny production was considerably inhibited by the two plants. The inhibition was complete with C. ambrosoides leaf powder at its highest content (32 g/kg). T. vogelii in the same condition induced 86.47% progeny reduction. Tephrosia vogelii and C. ambrosoides leaf powder effectively suppressed population growth and almost completely diminished the grain damage in more than eight months storage. Considering these results the two plants can successful protect stored bean against damage induced by A. obtectus in Tubah (North-West Cameroon). These plant products could supersede the synthetic insecticides used by smallholders in grain storage.

Keywords: Acanthoscelides obtectus, stored bean, infestation, Chenopodium ambrosoides, Tephrosia vogelii

Résumé

Acanthoscelides obtectus est l’un des insectes ravageurs les plus destructeurs du haricot durant le stockage. L’infestation par ce ravageur dĂ©bute dans les plantations et se poursuit lors du stockage. Plusieurs mĂ©thodes sont utilisĂ©es pour rĂ©duire les dĂ©gâts causĂ©s par ce ravageur ; les insecticides chimiques sont les plus utilisĂ©s, bien qu’efficaces, ceux-ci sont la cause de plusieurs problèmes environnementaux. Ainsi  la recherche des mĂ©thodes de protection plus Ă©cologiques est plus que nĂ©cessaire. Dans cette optique, les poudres des feuilles de Chenopodium ambrosoides et Tephrosia vogelii ont Ă©tĂ© testĂ©es sur A. obtectus concernant la toxicitĂ© sur les adultes, la production de la progĂ©niture F1, la rĂ©duction des dĂ©gâts et la suppression de la croissance de population. Quatre concentrations (4 ; 8 ; 16 et 32 g/kg) de chaque poudre ont Ă©tĂ© mĂ©langĂ©es sĂ©parĂ©ment au grain de haricot, Phaseolus vulgaris. La mortalitĂ© des adultes a Ă©tĂ© enregistrĂ©e après 1,  4, 7 et 10 jours post traitement. Les deux poudres ont induit une mortalitĂ© significative. C. ambrosoides a induit une mortalitĂ© totale Ă  16 g/kg en quatre jours. La mĂŞme performance a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ©e par T. vogelii Ă  la dose maximale (32 g/kg) en 10 jours d’exposition. Les concentrations lĂ©tales induisant 50% de mortalitĂ© (LC50) en 10 jours Ă©taient de 1,48 et 2,05 g/kg respectivement pour C. ambrosoides et T. vogelii. Les deux plantes ont considĂ©rablement inhibĂ© la production de la progĂ©niture F1. L’inhibition complète (100%) a Ă©tĂ© atteinte par C. ambrosoides Ă  la dose maximale (32 g/kg). Dans les mĂŞmes conditions T. vogelii a induit une inhibition de 86,47% de production F1. Les poudres de feuilles de C. ambrosoides et T. vogelii ont inhibĂ© la croissance de la population et complètement rĂ©duit les dĂ©gâts sur les grains en huit mois de stockage. ConsidĂ©rant ces rĂ©sultats, ces plantes pourraient avantageusement remplacer les insecticides de synthèse utilisĂ©s par les paysans dans la protection des grains stockĂ©s.

Mots clĂ©s : Acanthoscelides obtectus, haricot en stockage, infestation, Chenopodium ambrosoides, Tephrosia vogelii