BIOLOGICAL EFFICACY OF JACKFRUIT (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.) LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST FIELD INSECT PESTS OF COWPEA

The protection of agricultural crops from deleterious insect infestations has remained a significant issue within the field of agriculture. Insect pests inflict considerable catastrophic damage on field crops resulting in high yield losses. To mitigate the threat posed by insect pest populations while concurrently preserving ecological integrity, aqueous extracts derived from Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit) were evaluated for their inseticidal efficacy against field insect pests of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). A total of fifteen distinct cowpea plants were cultivated at a spacing of 1 meter apart within the greenhouse of the Centre of Ecological Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Choba Port Harcourt. Six days subsequent to the initiation of foliage development, the plant pots designated as T2, T3, T4, and T5 were subjected to twice-daily treatments over the course of one month with varying concentrations of jackfruit extract (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0%) administered via a 250 mL spray apparatus, while the pot labelled T1 received only sterile water as a control measure. The extract exhibited pesticidal effects, as shown by the perforated leaves in the control group, which were vulnerable to pest damage. In contrast, the jackfruit extract effectively protected cowpea leaves from pest invasions, demonstrating its potential as a natural protective agent.The study confirms the potential of Jackfruit as a natural pesticide, offering protection for cowpea crops from pest infestations.