Use of Nicotiana sylvestris (Speg. and Comes) in Field Control of Locust on African Basil

Abstract

Background and Objective: The protection of crops from harmful insects, has continued to be a major concern in agriculture. Insects like oriental longheaded locusts, cause extensive and devastating damage to field crops. In order to protect crops against locust boom while preserving the environment, aqueous extracts of Nicotiana sylvestris were tested for their insecticidal potential against longheaded locusts on Ocimum gratissimum . Materials and Methods: Six different Ocimum gratissimum plants were planted 10 m apart in the garden. Three days after foliage production, plants pots labeled A, B and C were treated twice daily for one month with different concentrations (57.5, 115 and 230 g) of Nicotiana sylvestris extract in a 236 mL spray bottle, while pot D, E and F, were treated with sterile water as the control experiment. Results: The tested extract has an insecticidal effect based on the punctured leaves of the control experiment. The experiment also revealed that Nicotiana sylvestris was effective as a field protectant in protecting the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum against longheaded locust attacks. Conclusion: The potential of Nicotiana sylvestris was revealed as a natural insecticide in protecting Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) against grasshoppers (oriental longheaded locust) attacks.