effect of Moringa oliefera powders for the control of Khapra beetle on sorghum grains

Abstract

Laboratory study was conducted at the collage of Agricultural studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology Shambat, Khartoum-Sudan, during 2016 to evaluated the insecticidal effects of powders of Moringa oleifera Lamp from different plant parts (leaves, flowers, seeds and branches) at three levels of concentrations 1, 2.5, and 5 g/100g grains of test plant powders and the untreated control (0g/100 g grains) against the 3rd instars larvae of khapra beetles (Trogoderma granarium (Everts.), were tested in sorghum grains infested with the 3rd instars larvae of khapra beetles using completely randomized design (CRD). larvae mortality of khapra beetles were assessed at 1, 3, 7 and 30 days of infestation. Results obtained from study related that all powder from plant parts exhibited that significantly (P ≤ 0.05) protection of sorghum grains from T. granarium infestation compared with the control. Larvae mortality accounts increased with increasing amount of M. oleifera powders and time of exposure. The sorghum grains treated with M. oleifera seed powder gave the highest range (7.5- 15.0%) larvae mortality at 1 and 3 days, respectively. Also the highest progressive increase in larvae mortality ranging from 37.5 - 42.5% was achieved with in sorghum grains treated with M. oleifera seed powder, while the lowest increase in larvae mortality ranging from 17.5 – 22.5% in sorghum grains treated with M. oleifera flower powder was recorded at the highest concentration 5% at 7 and 30 days respectively. M. oleifera powders can be used as alternative to synthetic insecticides for control of T. granarium.