WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY PAPERS 2001-3 The use of plant material to protect stored leguminous seeds against seed beetles: a review by S.J. Boeke, J.J.A. van Loon, A. van Huis, D.K. Kossou and M. Dicke Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8031, 6700EH Wageningen,The Netherlands Dateo f publication: 30-10-2001 A ia BACKHUYS PUBLISHERS 2001 ^r j EDITORIAL MESSAGE WAgeningen University Papers is the new title of Wageningen Agricultural University Papers, which series was published from 1988 upto 1999 (the last issue was 1999-4: Monopetalanthus exit, by J.J. Wieringa). In the year 2000 no issues were produced. Predeces­ sors of the journal were the Agricultural University Wageningen Papers (1984-1988) and the Mededelingen van de Landbouwhoge­ school (te) Wageningen (1918-1983). The publication, a series of irregularly published monographs (some­ times reviews or theses) mainly in the English language (with occasional French language issues), is a medium for larger-sized papers of Wageningen University staff members and their collabo­ rators, working in the fields of plant- and animal sciences. Until 1996 the series was funded centrally by the University, but because of financial considerations this policy has been abandoned. Since then, funding has been rather haphazard. The series has always been used as an official exchange medium for the Central Library of the University, which policy has also been abandoned. The exchange list has been reduced, and in the future the WAUP will be offered for exchange with library partners only on the basis of counter- performance. The Editorial Board is looking for ways to continue the publication of WAUP. Sincerely, WAUP Editorial Board. Prof.dr.ir. L.J.G. van der Maesen, Chairman Dr.ir. I. Bos, Member Dr. W. Backhuys, Publisher ISBN 90-5782-100-1 © Distribution: Backhuys Publishers, P.O. Box 321,230 0A H Leiden, The Netherlands. Telephone: +31-71-5170208 Fax: +31-71-5171856 E-mail: [email protected] All rights reserved Printed in The Netherlands Bibliotheek Planteziekfenkund::.] Centrum Binnenhaven 3 - Pootbus 8122 6700 ER WAGENINGEN Theus eo fplan tproduct st oprotec t storedseed s THEUS E OFPLAN T PRODUCTS TOPROTEC T STORED LEGUMINOUS SEEDS AGAINST SEEDBEETLES :A REVIE W Tableo f contents Abstract 3 1 Introduction 5 2Powder s or fresh application 9 2.1 Developmental stage affected 19 2.1.1 Effects on adults 19 2.1.2 Effects onovipositio n 19 2.1.3 Effects onegg san dlarva e 20 2.2 Comparison ofbeetl e species 21 2.3 Comparison ofplan t species 21 2.4Duratio n ofth eeffect s 22 2.5 Effects onth e storedproduc t 23 2.6 Conclusion 23 3 Ash 25 3.1 Developmental stage affected 26 3.1.1 Effects on adults 26 3.1.2 Effects on oviposition 27 3.1.3 Effects on eggs and larvae 27 3.2 Comparison ofbeetl e species 27 3.3 Comparison ofplan t species 28 3.4Duratio n ofth eeffect s 28 3.5 Effects onth estore dproduc t 28 3.6 Conclusion 29 4 Volatile oils 31 4.1Developmenta l stage affected 35 4.1.1 Effects on adults 35 4.1.2Effect s on oviposition 36 4.1.3Effect s on eggsan d larvae 37 4.2 Comparison ofbeetl e species 37 4.3 Comparison ofplan t species 37 4.4Duratio n ofth e effects 38 4.5 Effects onth e storedproduc t 38 4.6 Conclusion 39 5Non-volatil eoil s 41 5.1 Developmental stage affected 50 5.1.1 Effects on adults 50 5.1.2 Effects on oviposition 51 5.1.3 Effects on eggs and larvae 51 5.2 Comparison ofbeetl e species 52 Tableo fcontent s 5.3 Comparison ofplan t species 52 5.4 Duration ofth e effects 53 5.5 Effects onth e stored product 54 5.6 Conclusion 54 6 Extracts 55 6.1 Developmental stage affected 61 6.1.1 Effects on adults 61 6.1.2 Effects on oviposition 61 6.1.3 Effects on eggs and larvae 62 6.2 Comparison ofbeetl e species 62 6.3 Comparison ofplan t species 62 6.4 Duration ofth e effects 63 6.5 Effects onth e stored product 63 6.6 Conclusion 63 7 General discussion 65 7.1 Modeo f action 65 7.2 Comparison ofbeetl e species 65 7.3 Comparison of application modes 66 7.4 Duration ofth e effects 66 7.5 Effects onth e stored product 67 7.6 Conclusion 67 8 References 91 Theus eo fplan tproduct st oprotec tstore dseed s THEUS E OFPLAN T PRODUCTS TOPROTEC T STORED LEGUMINOUS SEEDS AGAINST SEED BEETLES:A REVIE W S.J. Boeke1,J.J.A .va n Loon1,A .va n Huis1,D.K . Kossou2 andM .Dicke 1 1: Laborator yo fEntomology , Wageningen University, P.O Box 8031, 6700E H Wageningen, The Netherlands 2:Facult é des Sciences Agronomiques,Universit éNational e du Bénin, 01B P 526 Cotonou Bénin ABSTRACT Inmos t tropical regionsbeetle s attack stored seeds and constitute amajo r causeo f serious post-harvest crop losses.Beetle s deposit eggs onth e seed surface, the larvae develop insideth e seed and leavei t asadults .T oprotec t the storedproduc t against these insects,no t only synthetic insecticides,natura l enemies andphysica lmethod s canb e applied,bu t also formulations ofinsecticida l orinsect-repellen t plants.Thes emethod s eachhav ethen - advantages and their disadvantages. Aconsiderabl e body ofliteratur e has accumulated onplan t products asinsecticides ,wit hvariabl eresults .A n overview ofth e available literature onplan t products used against storagebeetle s (with afocu s onBruchida e infesting cowpea) is presented. Therevie w is structured according toth etyp e of formulation used to applyth eplan t product,i.e .powder , ash,volatil e oil,non-volatil e oilan d extract. Forplan t powders,preparatio n and application are easy andtherefor e manyplant shav e been used aspowder s inpilo t tests.Th equantitie s applied vary and theresult s from thetest s diverge considerably. Plant powders can affect all stages ofth edevelopin gbeetle . Inmos t cases,th e powders dono thav e anydirec t effects onth e stored product. Ash can offer aneffectiv e wayt oprotec t stored seeds against storage beetles, ifi t isapplie d in large quantities. The ashhinder s adultmovemen t and thushamper s oviposition. Disadvantages aretha t ash cannegativel y affect the appearance and germination ofth e stored seeds.Fo r small quantities of seeds, ashcoul d be achea p and safe alternative for chemical pesticides. Volatile oils are often effective but theyquickl y evaporate,unles s they are applied in airtight storage structures. The oils aremainl y effective against adultbeetle s either asrepellent s ora s toxicants,whic h causes oviposition tob e affected aswell .Du et o set-ups from whichbeetle s cannot escape,th erepellen t effect isofte n underestimated in laboratory tests.Applicatio n of volatile oils is easybu t should berepeate d for longter mprotection . Thevolatil e oil doesno t needt ob e indirec t contact withth e stored product, soth eproduc t isusuall y unaffected byth e treatment. The yield ofvolatil e oil from plants isgenerall y low.Distillatio n equipment anda lot ofplan t material areneede d to obtain theoil . Non-volatile oilshav emainl yphysica l effects on theinsects .Egg s aremos t susceptible. They areeithe r asphyxiated orthei r attachment toth e seed surface and subsequent penetration ofth e hatched larva arehampered . Non-volatile oils aredifficul t to apply. The seedwil lb eprotecte d duet o thisphysica l effect onlyi fth e oil forms afilm coverin g itswhol e surface. The side effects of oilso nth e stored product arenumerous ,rangin g from achang e of colourt o an alteration oftast e and inhibition of seed germination. Toobtai n large enough quantities ofoil s largequantitie s ofplant s areneede d and alo t ofwork . Manyo fth e edible oils areusuall y for sale. Extracts of fresh or dryplant s areusuall y more effective thanpowders .The y aremostl y effective against adultbeetles , either asrepellent s or astoxicants . Other developmental stages ofth ebeetl e canb e susceptible aswell . Theeffec t of extractso nth e stored product is usually negligible. Large quantities ofplant s areofte n needed to obtain sufficient amounts of extracts. Solvent availability can causeproblems . Abstract Manydifferen t plant specieshav ebee nteste d for their effect on thebeetles .I nthi s review,mor e than 400 species arementioned . However, the literature available doesno t allow a general ranking of insecticidal orrepellen t efficacy. This isdu et o the lack of experimental detail and statistical analyses ofth eresult s inman y ofth e cited publications. In addition, theefficac y of aplan t product depends on theplan t species, the individual plant, theplan t part and thetim e and way ofharvesting . Inbioassays , the application mode,th equantity , thepreparatio n ofth eplan t material,th e state ofth e product to store (e.g.intactnes s ofth e seed skin and/orpod ) and storage conditions (e.g. humidity, rateo f infestation) aswel l asth ebeetl e speciesteste d are important for the outcome ofth etests .Th emer e fact that natural products areuse d implies that considerable variation ist ob e expected inbioassa y outcomes. Indeed, literature results areofte n contradictory, notwithstanding the fact thatman yplan t species do show useful effects against seedbeetles . Themos t effective plants ormethod s of application areno t yetknown ,bu t results arepromisin g andplan t products canb e an effective replacement for chemical insecticides inth ebattl e against seedbeetles . Theus eo fplan tproduct st oprotec tstore dseed s 1 INTRODUCTION Cowpea (Vignaunguiculata (L.) Walp.)i sa n important crop intropica l regions, particularly inWes t and Central Africa.