Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.
Sec. Crop Biology and Sustainability
Volume 8 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2024.1495194

Impact of botanical extracts on mungbean pest management and seed storability in the northern highlands of Tanzania

Provisionally accepted
Godfrey Adolph Kessy Godfrey Adolph Kessy 1,2*Angela Gerald Mkindi Angela Gerald Mkindi 2Papias Binagwa Papias Binagwa 1Patrick Alois Ndakidemi Patrick Alois Ndakidemi 2
  • 1 Selian Agricultural Research Centre, Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania
  • 2 Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Arusha, Tanzania

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This study assessed the efficacy of plant extracts as alternatives to synthetic pesticides for pest control and seed quality preservation in mungbean cultivation in northern Tanzania, specifically at TARI Selian and Miwaleni. The study employed a randomized complete block design. Four plants' extracts-Tephrosia vogelii, Clutia abbsynica, Clausena anisata, and Lobelia gibelloawere evaluated during the 2020 growing season (field) and 2021 storage period (storability). The study focused on their effects on insect pests (leaf beetles, thrips, aphids, whiteflies, and pod borers) and their ability to maintain seed quality during storage. C. anisata emerged as the most effective extract across all pests, demonstrating high suppression rates for thrips (3.4), aphids (3.22), whiteflies (3.4), and pod borers (2.7). In contrast, L. gibelloa was the least effective, with lower suppression rates for thrips (3.1) and aphids (3.1). Furthermore, botanical treatments significantly reduced pest damage in stored seeds, with T. vogelii and C. abbsynica showing superior performance in preserving seed weight and quality during storage. Seeds treated with T. vogelii had significantly fewer holes and lower weight loss compared to other treatments, indicating its effectiveness in both pest management and seed preservation. Conversely, L. gibelloa and C. anisata contributed to greater weight loss, particularly at higher application rates.The study demonstrates that plant extracts can offer a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides, effectively controlling pests and preserving seed quality. These findings are crucial for improving mungbean production and storage, enhancing food security, and reducing reliance on chemical pesticides in diverse agro-ecological contexts. Future research should further explore the long-term ecological impacts and optimal application rates of these botanicals for integrated pest management and seed storage.

    Keywords: Agricultural insect pests, Ecological friendly botanical extracts, efficacy, Postharvest losses mitigation, Sustainable food system, Tanzania

    Received: 28 Oct 2024; Accepted: 02 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Kessy, Mkindi, Binagwa and Ndakidemi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Godfrey Adolph Kessy, Selian Agricultural Research Centre, Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.