INSECTICIDAL EFFECT OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS (JACKFRUIT) EXTRACT ON ZEA MAYS

The preservation of agricultural crops from harmful insect infestations has persistently constituted a critical concern in the domain of agriculture. Insects have caused substantial and disastrous harm to field crops. To alleviate the risks presented by insect populations while simultaneously maintaining ecological balance, aqueous extracts obtained from Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit) were assessed for their pesticidal effectiveness against pests impacting maize. A total of fifteen distinct maize specimens were cultivated with a spacing of 1 meter apart within the greenhouse at the Centre of Ecological Studies. Three days following the commencement of leaf development, the plant pots designated as T2, T3, T4, and T5 underwent bi-daily applications over a one-month period utilizing various concentrations of Jackfruit extract (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0%) dispensed through a 250 mL spray apparatus, while the pot labelled T1 received solely sterile water as a control condition. The evaluated extract exhibited pesticidal characteristics as indicated by the perforated foliage observed in the control treatment. Moreover, the findings revealed that Jackfruit acted effectively as a protective agent in shielding the leaves of maize from pest invasions. All concentrations of jackfruit leaf extracts exhibited notable pesticidal activity within the four weeks of trial period, with the 100% concentration achieving the highest inhibition effect of 94.3%. The control had 0% inhibition. Variations in the inhibitory effects on the insects may be attributed to differences in their cellular metabolism. The efficacy of Jackfruit was consequently established as a natural pesticide in the protection of maize against pest encroachments.