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Repellent effects of essential oils from selected eucalyptus species and their major constituents against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2013

Caroline Karimi Karemu ,
Mary Wambui Ndung'u  and
Mercy Githua
Caroline Karimi Karemu*
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000-00200Nairobi, Kenya
Mary Wambui Ndung'u
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000-00200Nairobi, Kenya
Mercy Githua
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000-00200Nairobi, Kenya
*
*E-mail: karimi.karemu@gmail.com
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Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is Kenya's most important staple crop with annual production fluctuating between 2.6 and 3.1 million tons in 2012 and 2011, respectively. However, frequent food shortages are still experienced in the country. These have been attributed to pests and diseases and post-harvest constraints. The dominant post-harvest pest of maize is Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.), which causes losses between 10 and 20% of harvested grain. The objective of this study was to establish the repellent activity of essential oils extracted from selected eucalyptus species against S. zeamais. Essential oils were extracted from the fresh leaves of Eucalyptus saligna Sm., Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Schlecht and Eucalyptus citriodora Hook by steam distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. A repellency bioassay, with varying concentrations (0.002, 0.02, 0.2 and 2 μl/μl) of the oils, was carried out against the maize weevils using a Y-shaped olfactometer. Repeated measures of analysis of variance were applied to test the different doses and repellents, and their interactions against S. zeamais. The essential oils of E. camaldulensis and E. citriodora presented better repellent activity at the 2 μl/μl concentration (74.35 and 69.15%, respectively) followed by those of E. globulus (53.68%) and E. saligna (40.5%). Gas chromatography (GC)–mass spectrometry and GC co-injections with authentic samples showed the presence of the following major constituents in: (i) E. camaldulensis oil: 1,8-cineole (18.9%), α-cardinol (6.4%) and β-phellandrene (2.6%); (ii) E. citriodora oil: 1,8-cineole (11.2%), β-pinene (3.2%) and 4-terpineol (3.1%); and (iii) E. globulus oil: 1,8-cineol (17.2%), α-pinene (7.1%) and spathulenol (6.5%). The results provide a scientific rationale for the use of eucalyptus oils in the protection of maize against weevils.

Keywords

Eucalyptus camaldulensisEucalyptus citriodoraEucalyptus globulusEucalyptus salignaessential oilmaizerepellenceSitophilus zeamais
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , September 2013 , pp. 188 - 194
Copyright
Copyright © icipe 2013 

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