INSECTICIDAL EFFECT OF PAWPAW (Carica papaya L.) LEAF POWDER ON MAIZE WEEVIL (Sitophilus zeamais) IN STORED MAIZE SEEDS

Laboratory experiment was conducted at the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology
Aliero, to investigate the insecticidal effect of Pawpaw (Carica papaya) leaf powder in
controlling maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais) in stored maize seeds. The organically produced
powder prepared was applied at 2.5g per 100g grains, 5g per 100g, 10g per 100g, an untreated
Control and a standard Synthetic check, laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with
replications. The powders were tested alongside with untreated maize. Result showed significant
effects among the treatments depicting a significant effect in reducing S. zeamais infestation on
stored maize. The study observed that treatment of maize grains with Pawpaw leaf powder
significantly reduced loss of weight in all the treatments on Maize stored seeds. A significant
difference (p<0.05) was observed between treated and untreated (control) with the weight of
damaged seeds was significantly (p<0.05) higher in treated grains than the untreated control
(40.28). The Maize grains treated with C. Papaya powder at different concentration 2.5g, 5.0g
and 10g; having varying degree of weight damages on seeds and was significantly lower than
the untreated control. Maize treated with 2.50g of C. papaya recorded seed damage of 31.06,
with 5.0g of Carica papaya producing a weight loss of 19.24 and Maize treated with 10.0g of
C. papaya leaf powder had recorded seed damage of 9.23. The study confirmed that the use of
organic C. papaya leaf powder had significantly reduced S. zeamais infestation on the stored
maize during storage.