Title: Screening of sens for its pesticidal and insecticidal capabilities

Biography:

Balogun Lanre Lukman is a PhD student at Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. He is the Managing Director of Emblan Global Investment Nigeria Ltd, an Agricultural Consultant Company. He is into farming of arable, annual, perennial crops and consulting for sustainable (Green) Agriculture. He has published one paper on proximate and minerals composition of vegetables.

Abstract

Fresh extract (liquid) of Lantana camara was screened weekly and continuous field sprays for its ability to control the insects infesting Lycopersicum esculentus (Tomatoes) plants in the investigation. Infrared Spectroscopy was used to identify the presence and the environment of functional groups of organic molecules present in extracts (wet and dry). The mineral elements was also determined to investigate the elements present in both extracts. The results from the investigation (IRS) showed that both extracts (wet and dry)contained amino acids such as; Glycine, Valine, Leucine, Serine, Aspartic acid, Lysine, and others as the active ingredients present. The fresh extract when sprayed weekly repelled and killed the insects infesting the plants and when sprayed continuously, the leaves of the plants was affected by changing the colour to yellow and stunted the growth of the plants occurred. Thus, the plants later survived when the continuous spraying was stopped. Moreover, the elemental analysis of the two extracts was also analyzed and result showed that they contained ash contents and minerals nutrients such as; Na, K, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ca and P. Hence, thepresence of these elements would help in improving the growth and enhance the performance of the plants.