Author Name
ES. Djomaha And SJ. Mameyong Nialepa
Laboratory of Phytopathology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon
Journal Name
International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research | IJAAR
Abstract
A study on the control of watermelon pests was conducted in the Western region of Cameroon. The trial was laided on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the University of Dschang farm from December 27, 2019 to April 10, 2020 (dry season). The treatments were T1 (control plot), T2 Biotrin (Abamectin 5% at 375ml/ha), T3 Antario (Bacillus thuringiensis 1.4%+ abamectin 0.1% at 375g/ha), T4 Neem oil (0.3 to 1% Azadirachtin) at 7l/ha, 400 H2O/ha) and T5 (Emamectin benzoate 50g/kg, 250g/ha). Pest abundance, leaf infestation rate, plant growth parameters, and yields were assessed weekly from 26 days after sowing to three weeks before harvest. The results showed that Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) the major pest (39.54±7.15) and Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) (1.64±0.16) the second host infested watermelon. The peak of the leaf infestation rate is 20.97% at 40 DAS. The number of aphids was higher at 54 DAS (71.34±26.30) and for whiteflies at 68 DAS (2.83±0.54). The effect of the treatments was significant (P>0.05) for all parameters. The control plot was more infested with the highest mean leaf infestation rate, number of Aphids and whiteflies respectively 29.6± 2.30%; 158.03±29.59; 1.04±0.20 than Biotrin less attacked (4.11 0.89%; 2.21±0.4; 0.89±0.2). Biotrin, neem oil, Antario, and Emacot are comparable for all parameters. In summary, the lowest yield was obtained in the control plot (35.71±2.66t/ha) but was not significantly different (P˃0.05) from those of the other plots. Biotrin, neem oil, and Antario are bioinsecticide alternatives for Emacot and they should be applied before the 40DAS.
Introduction
Vegetables play a fundamental role in food and nutrition security programmes (James et al., 2010). They are the most important and inexpensive component of a balanced diet that are taken into account because of their richness in nutrients essential for the body (Andreas Ebert, 2014). In Africa, vegetable production is one of the dynamic sectors, favourable to producers and exporters in terms of both income and employment (Toutchap, 2018). Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thumb (Sankar et al., 2020) represents one of the most important vegetable crops of the cucurbit family, widespread throughout the world. From a nutritional standpoint, it is rich in water or 90.9% water on average with moisturising properties and low fat without cholesterol. It contains citrulline, which is used to synthesize another key amino acid in the body, with argine playing a key role in the vision, healing and elimination of ammonia (Arvanitoyannis et al., 2008). FAO (2014) reported that watermelon production has quadrupled in the last 40 years. In 2016, it stood at 117,022,560t representing 3,507,243 ha with an average yield of 3.34kg (FAOSTAT). In Cameroon, watermelon production increased from 44,527 t in 2010 to 51,893 t in 2013 (National Tropical Institute, 2015).
Watermelon production is a profitable sector like any other vegetable. Watermelon producers face insect pests as a major constraint as other vegetable in the world (Charleston et al., 2005; Djomaha, 2018). Theirs are the group of pests whose damage is significant because of climatic conditions that are favourable to their development (Imam et al., 2010). These watermelon pests are in particular the melon or cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover), the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), (National Tropical Institute, 2015).
Pests of the Hemiptera families are a major economic and agricultural problem in many tropical crops. They cause direct damage by sucking the contents of the leaves for food, thereby slowing down the growth and development of the plant. Indirectly, they secrete honeydew that produces fumagin and provides access to viruses (Blackman and Eastop, 2007). In the case of Aphis gossypii, the losses are up to 20% for direct attacks and 85% when the attacks are indirect and those of Bemisia tabaci go up to 100%. To address this problem, many farmers resort to the use of synthetic insecticides despite their adverse effects on the environment and human health (Grzywas et al., 2002).
One of the problems associated with insecticides is the mechanism of resistance of pests to different active ingredients (Charleston et al., 2005). Thus, this study focuses on increasing yields while respecting the environment through integrated pest management. Hence our test, that can justify the use of bioinsecticides such as biotrin, antario and neem oil to the detriment of synthetic insecticides. Check out more Impact of abamectin, Bacillus thuriengiensis and Neem oil extract on Aphis gossypii glover and Bemissia tabaci pests of the watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in Dschang
The International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR) is a leading scholarly journal that aims to publish high-quality research papers, reviews, and short communications in the fields of agronomy, agriculture, crop biology, breeding, marine biology and aquaculture, biotechnology, horticulture, mushroom culture, farming and advanced farming, crop management, soil science, irrigation and water management, pest management, weed management and control, disease management and control, and many more related areas.
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