Ziad Chikh-Khamis(1) Ebraheem Al-Jouri*(2) and Rehab Esber(1)
(1). Plant Protection Department, Agricultural Engineering Faculty, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria.
(2) . Insect Research Department, Plant Protection Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Dr. Ebraheem Al-Jouri. E-mail: e-jouri@gcsar.gov.com and ejouri73@gmail.com).
Received: 13/08/2018 Accepted: 30/01/2019
Abstract
Three types of inert dusts i.e. Kaolin, Silica and Zeolite, was tested against cowpea seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera, Bruchidae) adults at five concentrations viz. 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 g/kg cowpea seeds. The study was carried out at Biotechnology Research Center, Al-baath University. mortality rates were calculated after 72 hours and effectiveness to reduce loss of seed weight damage rate and the reduction of adult emergence were calculated. The results showed the effectiveness of three dusts in increasing mortality rates with superiority to Kaolin which increased by 85.49% and with significant deference P≥0.01 compared to both dusts Silica 81.72% and Zeolite 82.93%, and the effectiveness increased with increasing the concentration. The maximum value was 85.58% at a concentration of 80 g/kg and the lowest value was 76.36% at a concentration of 5 g/kg. The relationship was positive between increasing concentration and increasing effectiveness of dusts in reducing seed loss, damage ratio and adult emergence, where the effectiveness at a concentration of 5 g/kg were 88.11, 88.59 and 89.07% respectively, and the effectiveness increased at a concentration of 80 g/kg were 98.54 and 98.14 and 98.28% respectively. Kaolin dust was superior over Silica and Zeolite where Kaolin effectiveness in reducing weight loss, damage and adult emergence were 99.71, 99.70 and 99.77%, respectively, while it was 87.06, 87.76 and 86.56%, respectively in case of Zeolite. The results of the study showed that Kaolin dust is the most effectiveness compared to Silca and Zeolite against Cowpea seed beetle.
Keywords: Kaolin, Silica, Zeolite, Cowpea seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus.
Full Paper in Arabic: PDF