Toxicity Effects of Moringa oleiferaLeaf and Seed Extracts Against Weevil of Cowpea (Callosobruchus maculatus)Sold at Designated Markets in Awka, Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), being a stored product for consumption has shown diverse environmental,agronomic and economic advantages which contributes to the improvement ofthe diets and further increases the incomes of peasant farming across the globe.Unfortunately, same hasbeen widely attacked byvoluminouspests especiallyCallosobruchus maculatus, which reduces its market value and nutrientional content. Consequent upon this, management measures that have been engaged involve the use of chemical pesticides. Awkwardly, this comes with its attendant glitches such as harm to non-target organisms, pesticide resistance, pesticide residue, damage to the environment which unadvertly posess treath to both animal and human health. This triggered the study on the toxicity effect of Moringa oliefera leaf and seed extract in the control ofCallosobruchus maculatus. Thisinvestigation was set up in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) involving four (4)dissimilar concentrations (5%, 10%, 25% and 50%) and a control each of which was replicated three times.Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and log-probit regression analysiswere subsequently used to synthesize the information gotten from the study. Result showed that Moringaoleifera seed and leaf extract caused 30% and 16.6% mortalities at 10% concentration in 24 hours. The LC50 at 24,48,72 and 96 hours for the seed extract were 37.62%,48.96%, 36.86%, 30.62% while that of the leaf extract were 19.40%, 13.40%, 12.97%, 10.63% respectively. The LC90 at 24,48,72 and 96 hours for the seed extracts were 88.95%, 88.12%, 62.66%, 60.02% while that of the leaf extract were 33.74%, 34.79%, 33.66%, and 33.92% respectively. The lethal time (LT50 and LT90) for the lowest possible concentration (5%) was also determined. At 5% concentration, LT50 for the seed and leaf were 153 hours and 105 hours while LT90 for both the seed and the leaf were 265 hours and 187 hours respectively. The use of Moringa oleifera seed and leaf extract which were evaluated for 24, 48,72, and 96 hours respectively were significantly different (P<0.05). To that effect, thestudy results revealed that both the leaves and seed extracts of Moringa oleifera havegreat potential in the management of C. maculatus, hence Moringa oleifera is recommended to be used as a botanical pesticide against Callasobruchus maculatus.