Seed powders and the essential oils of Dennettia tripetela Baker F., Piper guineense Schum and Thonn, Mondora myristica (Gaerth) Dunal and Xylopia aethiopica Dunal A. Rich were evaluated for their effectiveness in protecting cowpea and maize grains during storage. D. tripetela powder mixed with maize grains, at 1.5 g per 25 g was significantly more effective (P < 0.05) than P. guineense, M. myristica and X. aethiopica in achieving 100% mortality of adults of Sitophilus zeamais in 24 h, and was also as effective as pirimiphosmethyl (10 ppm) in achieving 100% mortality of adult weevil in 24 h, 3 months after treatment at a dose of 3g per 25 g. There was no F1 emergence except in grains treated with M. myristica, X. aethiopica and the untreated controls. Essential oils of D. tripetela and P. guineense achieved 100% mortality of adults of Callosobruchus maculatus and Sitophilus zeamais in 24 h. Except in cowpea treated with X. aethiopica cowpea and maize grains treated with seed oils suppressed the emergence of F1 offspring and gave protection for up to 4 months of storage. However, cowpea and maize grains treated with oils, and maize grains treated with seed powders of M. myristica changed colour from white to orange.
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Okonkwo et al. (1996) studied this question.
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