INSECTICIDAL POTENTIALS OF NEEM SEEDS AND HYPTIS LEAF FORMULATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INSECT PESTS OF TOMATO AND CABBAGE
NJE Vol. 41(2): 48-61, 2025
DOI.10.36108/NJE/5202/14.0240
Iliyasu Mohammed Utono1 *, Lucius Joseph Bamaiyi1, Alice Chori Bege1, Sheikh Emmanuel Laykay Alao1, Afiniki Bawa Zarafi1, Abubakar Ahmed2, Dama James Habila3, Adobe Joshua Kwanashie1, Julius Bulus1, Bashir Dabo Abdul-Hadi1, Boniface David Kashina1.
1Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture/Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
2Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
Abstract
The quality and yield of tomatoes and cabbage in Nigeria are highly threatened by a complex of insect pests. Farmers spray broad-spectrum synthetic insecticides more often during the season, which poses health hazards and pollute the environment. The efficacy of plant-based pesticidal formulations of Neem seeds (Azadirachta indica) and African Bush Tea (Hyptis suaveolens) leaves against tomato and cabbage insect pests were evaluated during the 2023/2024 dry season at a field located behind the Department of Crop Protection (CPD), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The plants materials were extracted using methanol and chloroform as the solvents. The extracts were used individually or in combination (Chloroform + Methanol) to formulate Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) and Wettable Powder (WP). For each formulation, 0.5% and the checks (untreated and Lambdacyhalothrin + Dimethoate) were applied weekly and fortnightly on tomato and cabbage. Incidence, damage, and severity of insect pests were assessed weekly and yield determined at harvest. H. armigera, M. persicae, B. tabaci, Empoasca dolichi and Podagrica spp. were found to be the common insect pests. The insecticide check and the combined extract (Methanol + Chloroform) applied at 7 days intervals had the lowest insect infestation and fruit damage, with no difference in severity of damage compared to other plots sprayed fortnightly. Untreated had the highest insect incidence and percentage of fruit damage and severity. The WP had the lowest severity of fruit damage compared to the EC. The combined extract applied at 7 days intervals had the highest fruit weight and yield/ha. Insecticide check and methanol + chloroform formulation applied at 7 days had the lowest incidence and leaf damage and severity of damage on cabbage.
Keywords: Insect infestation, Tomato, Neem, Hyptis, Solvents, Management, Formulation