Skip to main content

Sustainable management of two key pests of cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (Brassicaceae), using homemade extracts from garlic and hot pepper

Organic Agriculture volume 3, pages 163–173 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata L., is an important leafy vegetable that provides vitamins and minerals for healthy body development. However, insect pest attack is a key contributing factor to its low yield. An experiment was undertaken at the agricultural research field of Crops Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Kwadaso in Ghana, during the major seasons of 2010 and 2011 to explore the potential of homemade extracts from garlic, Allium sativum L., and hot pepper, Capsicum frutescens L., in the management of insect pests of cabbage. Emamectin benzoate (ATTACK®) and lambda-cyhalothrin (BOSSMATE® 2.5EC) were used as reference insecticides. There were ten treatments made up of three levels (10, 20 and 30 g L−1 w/v) each of garlic, pepper, a mixture of garlic and pepper, ATTACK®, BOSSMATE® and control (tap water). The key insect pests recorded were the aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L., and the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. Generally, the efficacy of garlic and pepper was comparable to that of ATTACK®, with BOSSMATE® being the least efficacious. Pepper (20 g L−1 w/v) and ATTACK® (1 ml L−1 v/v) were more effective in controlling P. xylostella than the other treatments. Natural enemies encountered were the Coccinellidae, Syrphidae and Araneae. Generally, BOSSMATE® caused the greatest reduction in natural enemies’ abundance, followed by ATTACK®, with the plant extracts having a mild effect on the natural enemies. Cabbage head yield was comparable among insecticide-treated plots and botanical plots with the control plots doing well in some instances. Garlic and pepper offer a significant potential for further exploration and development into affordable plant protection products for cabbage pests’ management, especially in smallholder farms and backyard gardens and organic vegetable production systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

References

  • Abbey L, Manso F (2004) Correlation studies on yield and yield components of two cultivars of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.). Ghana J Sci 44:3–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Afun JVK, Jackai LEN, Hodgson CJ (1991) Calendar and monitored insecticide application for the control of cowpea pests. Crop Prot 10(5):363–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonious GF, Meyer JE, Snyder JC (2006) Toxicity and repellency of hot pepper extracts to spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. J Environ Sci Health B 41(8):1383–1391

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonious GF, Meyer JE, Rogers JA, Hu YH (2007) Growing hot pepper for cabbage looper, Trichopulsia ni (Hübner) and spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) control. J Environ Sci Health B 42(5):559–567

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ascher KRS (1996) Non conventional insecticidal effects of pesticide available from the neem tree, Azadirachta indica. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 22:433–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baidoo PK, Mochiah MB, Apusiga K (2012) Onion as a pest control intercrop in organic cabbage (Brassica oleracea) production system in Ghana. Sustain Agric Res 1(1):36–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Chellaiah S, Srinivasan K (1986) Bio ecology and management of diamondback moth in India. In: The management of diamondback moth and other crucifer pests. Proceedings of the 1st international workshop, Thainan, 11–15, March, 1985. AVRDC, Taiwan, pp 63–76

  • Davis M (2007) Ghana goes for IPM. Pesticides News 38:4–5. http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Issue/pn38/pn38p4.HTM. Accessed 18 September 2012

    Google Scholar 

  • Devotto L, Carrillo R, Cisternas E, Gerding M (2007) Effects of lambda-cyhalothrin and Beauveria bassiana spores on abundance of Chilean soil surface predators, especially spiders and carabid beetles. Pedobiologia 51:65–73

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2000) Cabbage ecological guide. FAO Inter-country programme for IPM in vegetables in South and Southeast Asia. Rome, Italy

  • Fening KO, Owusu-Akyaw M, Mochiah MB, Amoabeng BW, Narveh E, Ekyem SO (2011) Sustainable management of insect pests of green cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (Brassicaceae), using homemade extracts from garlic and hot pepper. Pages 567–570. In: Pest and disease management. Organic crop production volume 1: organic is life, knowledge for tomorrow. Proceedings of the Third Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), held at the 17th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Namyangju, Korea, 28 September - 1 October 2011.

  • Insecticide Research Action Group (2010) Guidelines for controlling aphids in brassica crops and managing insecticide resistance in the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae. Warwick HRI/HDC, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahromi MG, Pourmirza AA, Safaralizadeh MH (2011) Evaluation of the mortality of two stored-product insects by garlic emulsion (Sirinol) in combination with low air pressure. Afr J Biotechnol 10(84):19650–19657

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jansson RK, Brown R, Cartwright B, Cox D, Dunbar DM, Dybas RA, Eckel C, Lasota JA, Mookerjee PK, Norton JA, Peterson RF, Starner VR, White S (2012) Emamectin benzoate: a novel avermectin derivative for control of lepidopterous pests, pp. 171–176 in Chemical control proceedings: the management of diamondback moth and other crucifer pest. http://web.entomology.cornell.edu/shelton/diamondback-moth/pdf/1996papers/1996DBM28.pdf. Accessed 30-08- 2012

  • Lingappa S, Basavanagoud K, Kulkarni KA, Patil RS, Kambrekar DN (2004) Threat to vegetable production by diamondback moth and its management strategies. In: Mukerji KG (ed) Fruit and vegetable diseases, vol 1. Springer, Netherlands, pp 357–396

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mochiah MB, Baidoo PK, Owusu-Akyaw M (2011) Influence of different nutrient applications on insect populations and damage to cabbage. J Appl Biosci 38:2564–2572

    Google Scholar 

  • Ntow JW, Gijzen HJ, Kelderman P, Drechsel P (2006) Farmer perceptions and pesticide use practices in vegetable production in Ghana. Pest Manag Sci 62:356–365

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obeng-Ofori D, Ankrah DA (2002) Effectiveness of aqueous neem extracts for the control of insect pest of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata L.) in the Accra plains of Ghana. Agric Food Sci J Ghana 1:83–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Obeng-Ofori D, Owusu EO, Kaiwa ET (2002) Variation in the level of carboxylesterase activity as an indicator of insecticide resistance in populations of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.) attacking cabbage in Ghana. J Ghana Sci Assoc 4(2):52–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Obeng-Ofori D, YirenkyiDanquah E, Ofosu-Anim J (2007) Cabbage and cauliflower. In: Ofori K (ed) Vegetable and spice crop production in West-Africa. City Publishers Ltd, Accra, pp 119–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Okoth S, Ogol CKP, Basimike M, Varela M (2002) Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of aqueous neem extract and Dipel 2× on diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella Linn., on cabbage in Kenya. Insect Sci Appl 22(2):139–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Osei MK, Osei K, Braimah H, Mochiah MB, Berchie JN, Bolfrey-Arku G, Lamptey JNL (2013) Practices and constraints to cabbage production in urban and peri-urban Ghana: focus on Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions. Basic Res J Agric Sci Rev 2(1):5–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman GKMM, Motoyama N (2000) Repellent effect of garlic against stored products pests. J Pestic Sci 25:247–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute Inc (2011) SAS user’s guide: statistics version 9.3.ed. SAS Institute, Cary

    Google Scholar 

  • Timbilla JA, Nyarko KO (2004) A survey of cabbage production and constraints in Ghana. Ghana J Agri Sci 37:93–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolman JH, McLeod DGR, Harris CR (2004) Cost of crop losses in processing tomato and cabbage in southwestern Ontario due to insects, weeds and/or diseases. Can J Plant Sci 84:915–921

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • USDA (2009) USDA National Nutrient Database for standard reference. Release 22

  • Zalucki MP, Shabbir A, Silva R, Adamson D, Liu SS, Furlong MJ (2012) Estimating the economic cost of one of the world’s major insect pests, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae): just how long is a piece of string? J Econ Entomol 105(4):1115–1129

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zehnder G, Simonne E, Briggs T, Bannon J, Ruff M (1997) Organic sprays effective for worm control in cabbage and lettuce. Highlights of Agric Res 43(3):14–16

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Director, Crops Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ghana, Dr. Hans Adu-Dapaah for providing institutional support for this study. We thank the field assistance offered by our technicians Mr. Gyimah Anthony, Mr. Adama Amadu, Mr. Agyekum Augustine and Mr. Douglas Antwi and Miss Josephine Mends for her assistance in data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crops Research Institute, CSIR, P. O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana

    K. O. Fening, B. W. Amoabeng, I. Adama, M. B. Mochiah, H. Braimah, M. Owusu-Akyaw, E. Narveh & S. O. Ekyem

  2. Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, Kpong, Institute of Agricultural Research, College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG. 68, Accra, Ghana

    K. O. Fening

Authors
  1. K. O. Fening
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. W. Amoabeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Adama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. B. Mochiah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. Braimah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Owusu-Akyaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. E. Narveh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. S. O. Ekyem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. O. Fening.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fening, K.O., Amoabeng, B.W., Adama, I. et al. Sustainable management of two key pests of cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (Brassicaceae), using homemade extracts from garlic and hot pepper. Org. Agr. 3, 163–173 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-014-0058-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-014-0058-2

Keywords

  • Cabbage pests
  • Plant extracts
  • Natural enemies
  • Sustainable management