Evaluation of Extracts of Melia azedarach, Azadirachta indica (Neem oil), Lantana camara and Artemisia Annua as Choice and No-choice test for Cylas formicarium (sweet potato weevil)
Date
2020-05
Authors
Sandhu, Harpreet K.
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Abstract
The sweet potato is ranked as the seventh major crop in world crop production;
with 103 million tones in 2013 (FAOSTAT 2015). Sweet potato has several insect pests but Cylas formicarius (sweet potato weevil) is one of the most destructive pests, globally. Sweet potato weevil is very difficult to control, and control is achieved almost entirely by multiple applications of synthetic insecticides. Currently, few effective controls are available for low input sustainable or organic production. In this investigation, methanol, ethanol and water extracts of Melia azedarach and a commercial formulation of Azadirachta indica (neem) were assessed to evaluate their pesticidal activity against C. formicarius using choice and no-choice experiments. Exact binomial tests were used to evaluate weevil responses in the choice experiments. A generalized linear model with a binomial error structure was used to assess responses in the no-choice. Feeding behavior of weevils was analyzed by recording their movement inside petri dish after 24 hours acclimation within divided petri dishes containing treated and/or untreated sweet potato. In the no-choice tests comparison of A. indica and M. azedarach, methanol extract of M. azedarach was more effective than ethanol extract of M. azedarach (p-value = 0.0041) and A. indica was more effective than ethanol extract of M. azedarach (p-value = 0.0067). In the choice test of A. indica and M. azedarach, the results indicated that methanol extract of M. azedarach and ethanol extract of M. azedarach was significantly different than control with a (p-value = 0.000) and (p-value =0.0351).
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Keywords
Sweet potato, Cylas formicarius, Melia azedarach, Azadirachta indica, Neem, Botanical control
Citation
Sandhu, H. K. (2020). Evaluation of extracts of Melia azedarach, Azadirachta indica (Neem oil), Lantana camara and Artemisia Annua as choice and no-choice test for Cylas formicarium (sweet potato weevil) (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.