Evaluation of Varietal, Infochemicals and Bio-pesticidal Effects in the Management of Cucumber Beetles in Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus Linn.) in the Southern Guinea Savanna

Abstract

The experiments were laid out in the Teaching and Research farms of Federal University Wukari, Nigeria. Six cucumber cultivars were treated on varietal effects; five infochemicals and a control for second experiment, while four bio-pesticides materials, Cypermethrin and untreated control were also studied. Each treatment was laid out in RCBD and replicated three times. The vine length was higher in cultivars Penino and Seminis, 50.87cm and 50.70cm respectively, number of branches were uniform, but Poinsett had larger leaves area 141.33cm2, hence higher yield (141.67) and much heavier fruits 31.30g, both were not significantly different (P>0.05). Mean fruit damage was highest in Griffaton (4.55), Seminis gave longer and larger fruit sizes. Marketer had high pests’ invasion (200.33). Naphthalene treated plants gave better growth, and yields, 164.67, weighing 38.07g. Other infochemicals performed below the untreated control. Average fruit damage was least in cinnamon oil treated plots, but fruits length and diameter were uniform across the treatments. The untreated control had higher pest beetle population effects. Better yields were recorded in ANSE treated cucumber plants (186.00), heavier fruits and less fruit damage recorded in the Cypermethrin treated crops, but a higher beetle population was in control. The bio-pesticides gave varied levels of protection. Combining varietal, info chemicals and bio-pesticides impacts secures marketable fruits. This study lacks explanations on differences in relative beetle population, fruit yield inconsistencies, weight and variability recorded across the experiments. However, further studies will improve the results of these studies. Also, statistically significant impacts were difficult to prove, probably due to the low number of plots that reduced the power of our data, leading to type 2 error masking important differences.