Varietal influence and insecticidal application in the control of some insect pests of false sesame, Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl., in Ilorin, Kwara State

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out to evaluate the yield efficacy of an insecticide Decis 2.5 EC (Deltamethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide) for the control of some insect pests of two cultivars of Bungu, Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl. in Ilorin, Kwara State. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design with two treatments. Each treatment was replicated four times. Decis 2.5 EC used at the rate of 50ml/ha was sprayed at 4 weeks after planting. The damage caused by Antigastra. catalaunalis as a result of its feeding activity was cultivar dependent. The damage was significantly higher (P<0.05) on cv. ‘Pete’ than on cv. ‘Gogoro’. Insecticide treated crops of cv. ‘Pete’ had significantly (P < 0.05) better growth and yield attributes than the non treated crops. The non treated crop of cv. ‘Pete’ had a mean leaf fresh weight of 0.5 g/m2, while the treated crop had a mean leaf fresh weight of 4.85g/m2. The insecticide treatment did not have any significant effect on the yield of cv. ‘Gogoro’ as the non treated crop as well as the treated crop had a mean leaf fresh of 0.05g/m2. Insecticidal sprays should be done weekly rather than at longer intervals to prevent a complete destruction of the crops on the field.