Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research
Open Access

Abstract

Efficacy of Cymbopogon Schoenanthus L. Spreng (Poaceae) Extracts on Diamondback Moth Damaging Cabbage

Yao Adjrah, Bakouma Laba, Amen Y Nenonéné, Koffi Koba, Wiyao Poutouli and Komlan Sanda

This study aims to examine the insecticidal properties of the aerial part of Cymbopogon schoenanthus. Cabbage plants were sprayed with the aqueous extracts of C. schoenanthus leaves as treatment, and the damage levels of Plutella xylostella was assessed. In vitro, the emulsified essential oil concentrations were used in a contact test on the larvae in order to assess the mortality effects. The larvae survival time was only 22 seconds with C. schoenanthus emulsified oil treatment (2 g/l), whilst it exceeded 44,100 seconds (over 12 hours) for the dimethoate. The nutrition test showed that at 48 h period, a significant effectiveness against larvae was observed with emulsified oil treatment 2 g/l (60% mortality) versus 10% of mortality for dimethoate. Cymbopogon schoenanthus can validly be used as alternative in P. xylostella management. The results of the field experiments showed no significant difference between the treatments and the control in terms of marketable cabbages harvested.