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Effect of a Biopesticide Based on Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Essential Oil on Cylas puncticollis, Main Pest of Sweet Potato: Preliminary Laboratory Test

Received: 17 December 2024     Accepted: 30 December 2024     Published: 24 January 2025
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Abstract

Particularly rich in nutritional elements, and with excellent agronomic characteristics, sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is an important crop for food security. It has the potential to improve the nutritional status of rural populations in an inexpensive and sustainable way. In Côte d'Ivoire, sweet potato is grown in all regions, but is unfortunately faced with a number of phytosanitary problems, in particular Cylas puncticollis, weevil which is the main threat. This insect can cause crop losses of up to 97%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a biopesticide based on lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil against C. puncticollis. Five doses (1%, 2%, 4%, 8% and 16%) of biopesticide were prepared from essential oil extracted from lemongrass. These different doses were applied to sweet potato leaves fed to adult C. puncticollis individuals reared in the laboratory, compared with an untreated control. Monitoring of the weevil mortality rate for each treatment over 15 days showed that the 8% and 16% doses were the most effective, with mortality rates of 87% and 97% respectively one week after application. These preliminary results constitute an important step in the evaluation of the possibility of using the essential oil of C. citratus in an integrated management strategy for sweet potato weevils.

Published in American Journal of Life Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajls.20251301.11
Page(s) 1-6
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sweet Potato Weevils, Integrated Management, Pests, Crops Protection, Roots and Tubers, Food Safety, Côte d’Ivoire

1. Introduction
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), a Convolvulaceae, is one of the root and tuber crops consumed by more than two billion people worldwide . It has interesting agronomic qualities, such as good productivity, a production cycle that is shorter or shorter, and wide climatic and edaphic adaptation for most varieties . It has the potential to combat poverty, reduce blindness and improve the nutritional status of rural populations in an inexpensive and sustainable way . In Côte d'Ivoire, sweet potatoes are grown in all regions. It constitutes a significant proportion of the food consumed and also a source of income .
Despite its nutritional and economic advantages, sweet potato production is relatively low in the country. This low production is due to several factors including high pest pressure. Indeed, sweet potato is subject to several pests, the main ones being weevils . These insects can lead to crop losses of over 90% . For sustainable agriculture with a view to food security, integrated pest management is recommended. To achieve this, environmentally friendly control methods such as biological control are needed. It is within this framework that the present study was initiated. Its aim is to assess the effect of a biopesticide based on citronella essential oil (Cymbopogon citratus) on Cylas puncticollis (Coleoptera, Brentidae), weevil pest of sweet potato.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Study Site
This study was conducted at the Food Crop Research Station of the National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA) in Bouaké. This Station is located between 7°69' North latitude and 5°03' West longitude, at an altitude of 376 m . The climate in the study area is tropical humid, withfour seasons: a long dry season (November to February), along rainy season (March to June), a short dry season (July toAugust), and a short rainy season (September to October). These periods have become less distinct in recent years . The soils are ferrallitic and gravelly, moderately saturated, shallow, with a sandy-clay texture . The average annualrainfall is 1200 mm, with an average temperature of 25.73°C and annual sunshine duration of 2200 hours .
2.2. Plant Material
The plant material consists of lemongrass (Figure 1) and the sweet potato variety J21, known as “Saramani” (Figure 2). This is an orange-fleshed variety, rich in Provitamin A, with a potential yield of 20 t/ha. Its production cycle is 3 to 4 months. J21 variety is popular with users but is susceptible to weevils. The sweet potato leaves used were taken from a plot at the CNRA's Food Crop Research Station in Bouaké.
2.3. Animal Material
The animal material consists mainly of Cylas puncticollis adults (Figure 3). Insects were collected from infested sweet potato plots.
2.4. Technical Equipment
The technical equipment consisted of a homogeniser, an oven, petri dishes, tweezers, pairs of scissors and a set of glassware and laboratory consumables (Erlenmeyer flask, test tube, beaker, graduated cylinder, pipette, micropipette, acetone, distilled water, etc.). The Clevenger was used to extract essential oils. This apparatus consists of a heating plate, a pressure cooker, a water cooler, a bulb fed by a marine tank (closed circuit), a lifting support and a Vigreux column.
2.5. Extraction of the Essential Oil of Cymbopogon citratus and Preparation of Doses of Biopesticide
The essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus was extracted using the method described by Kobénan and al. . This method consists of:
1) harvesting C. citratus leaves early in the morning;
2) drying the leaves for a week in the shade;
3) extracting the essential oils by steam distillation using a Clevenger for an hour and a half (Figure 4).
4) Store the oil obtained in coloured bottles away from light.
From the essential oil extracted in this way, a biopesticide was formulated at concentrations of 1%, 2%, 4%, 8% and 16%.
Figure 1. Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass).
Figure 2. Sweet potato, variety J21 (“Saramani”).
Table 1. Experimental set-up.

Object

Number of C. puncticollis

Product

Dose

Number of petri dishes (Replicates)

T0: Control

5

None

None

5

D1: Cymbopogon 1%

5

Essential oil of C. citratus

0,4 mL/10 mL

5

D2: Cymbopogon 2%

5

0,8 mL/10 mL

5

D3: Cymbopogon 4%

5

1,6 mL/10 mL

5

D4: Cymbopogon 8%

5

2 mL/10 mL

5

D5: Cymbopogon 16%

5

4,8 mL/10 mL

5

Figure 3. Cylas puncticollis adult.
Figure 4. Extraction of the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus.
2.6. Monitoring and Data Collection
The mortality rate of C. puncticollis was monitored for each treatment. To do this, checks were carried out every morning for a fortnight from the start of the trial. They consisted of counting the dead individuals, which were systematically removed from the rearing boxes.
The cumulative mortality rate of C. puncticollis was then calculated as follows:
M(%)=Cp mortsCp introduits par boîte de pétri x 100
(M = Taux de mortalité cumulée de C. puncticollis)
2.7. Statistical Analysis
Shapiro-Wilk test was first applied to check the normality of the variables measured. As the data were all independent means, when the Shapiro-Wilk test showed that they followed a normal distribution, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA 1) was performed. Means were compared using the Student-Newman-Keuls test at the 5% significance level (α = 0.05). All statistical analyses were performed using JMP Pro 17.1.0 software.
3. Results
3.1. Effect of Different Doses of Cymbopogon citratus on the Mortality of Cylas Puncticollis
The five doses of the biopesticide based on Cymbopogon citratus essential oil were toxic to Cylas puncticollis. This progressive toxicity became apparent after the 5th day after, when a cumulative mortality rate of 50% was recorded with the treatments Cymbopogon 16%, 8% and 4%. The lethal time for 50% of the population (TL50) was 6 days with treatment D2 (Cymbopogon 2%) and 7 days for treatment D1 (Cymbopogon 4%) (Figure 5).
The lethal time for 70% of the population (TL70) was 6 to 7 days for the Cymbopogon 16%, 8%, 4% and 2% treatments, while it was 9 days for treatment D1 (Cymbopogon 4%.) and 10 days for the untreated control.
The 16%, 8% and 4% doses of Cymbopogon resulted in a 90% mortality rate after 8 days. This level of mortality was only reached after 12 days for D2 (2% Cymbopogon) and 14 days for D1 (1% Cymbopogon) and the untreated control.
Only the Cymbopogon 16% treatment achieved 100% cumulative mortality at the end of the 8th day after application. For all the other treatments, this mortality rate was only achieved between the 14th and 15th day after application (Figure 5).
3.2. Efficacy of Different Doses of C. Citratus Against C. Puncticollis one Week After Application
Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between treatments. Four homogeneous groups A, B, C, D and E were determined (Figure 6).
With a mortality rate of 97%, treatment D5 (Cymbopogon 16%) was the most effective. This was followed by treatment D4 (Cymbopogon 8%) which gave a mortality rate of 87%. Doses of 2% and 4% (treatments D2 and D3) of the biopesticide based on the essential oil of C. citratus gave a mortality rate of 83%. Treatment D1 (Cymbopogon 1%) gave the lowest mortality rate (67%).
Figure 5. Cumulative mortality rate of Cylas puncticollis according to the treatments.
Treatments marked with the same letter belong to the same homogeneous group

Download: Download full-size image

Figure 6. Comparison of treatments one week after application.
4. Discussion
This study highlighted the effectiveness of a biopesticide based on lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil against the sweet potato weevil Cylas puncticollis under laboratory conditions. The essential oil of this plant has insecticidal properties against various pests . Togola and collaborators in 2013 also demonstrated the efficacy of Cymbopogon citratus and Eucalyptus camaldulensis essential oils in protecting stored rice against the Sitophilus oryzae beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and the Sitotroga cerealella butterfly (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).
In the present study, the biopesticide was applied to sweet potato leaves that had been used as food by the weevils, and not directly to them. The essential oil of C. citratus would therefore have an effect by ingestion on C. puncticollis. Such an effect of this essential oil had been observated by Plata-Rueda and colleagues in their work on the pest Anticarsia gemmatalis in 2021 .
The mortality rate of C. puncticollis increased progressively with increasing doses of the biopesticide. This could be explained by the increased toxicity of this biopesticide as the dose increased. Increasing doses generally cause an increase in the intensity and diversity of toxic effects, which is known as the dose-response or exposure-response relationship .
In the future, the 8% and 16% doses of this biopesticide will have to be evaluated against C. puncticollis under conditions of natural infestation in the field to confirm these results.
5. Conclusion
This study evaluated the effect of a biopesticide based on lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil on Cylas puncticollis. The results showed that this biopesticide was toxic to the sweet potato weevil C. puncticollis. Of the five doses tested (1%, 2%, 4%, 8% and 16%), 16% and 8% were the most effective. These preliminary results are an important step in assessing the potential use of C. citratus essential oil in an integrated management strategy for sweet potato weevils.
Abbreviations

ANOVA

One-way Analysis of Variance

CNRA

National Centre for Agronomic Research

FCRS

Food Crop Research Station

UFHB

Félix Houphouët-Boigny University

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the National Centre for Agronomic Research, in particular the Food Crop Research Station by the Roots and Tubers Program for support in this study. They would also like to thank AFD and INTERCOTON for co-financing this work through the RESCO project.
Author Contributions
Kinampinan Adelphe Hala: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Software, Writing – original draft, review & editing
Koffi Christophe Kobenan: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Software, Writing – review & editing
Brice Sidoine Essis: Conceptualization, Methodology, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing
Konan Evrard Brice Dibi: Funding acquisition, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Visualization
Kouakou Hervé Koua: Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing
Data Availability Statement
The data is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
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    Hala, K. A., Kobenan, K. C., Essis, B. S., Dibi, K. E. B., Koua, K. H. (2025). Effect of a Biopesticide Based on Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Essential Oil on Cylas puncticollis, Main Pest of Sweet Potato: Preliminary Laboratory Test. American Journal of Life Sciences, 13(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20251301.11

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    Hala, K. A.; Kobenan, K. C.; Essis, B. S.; Dibi, K. E. B.; Koua, K. H. Effect of a Biopesticide Based on Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Essential Oil on Cylas puncticollis, Main Pest of Sweet Potato: Preliminary Laboratory Test. Am. J. Life Sci. 2025, 13(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20251301.11

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    AMA Style

    Hala KA, Kobenan KC, Essis BS, Dibi KEB, Koua KH. Effect of a Biopesticide Based on Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Essential Oil on Cylas puncticollis, Main Pest of Sweet Potato: Preliminary Laboratory Test. Am J Life Sci. 2025;13(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20251301.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajls.20251301.11,
      author = {Kinampinan Adelphe Hala and Koffi Christophe Kobenan and Brice Sidoine Essis and Konan Evrard Brice Dibi and Kouakou Hervé Koua},
      title = {Effect of a Biopesticide Based on Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Essential Oil on Cylas puncticollis, Main Pest of Sweet Potato: Preliminary Laboratory Test},
      journal = {American Journal of Life Sciences},
      volume = {13},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-6},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajls.20251301.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20251301.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajls.20251301.11},
      abstract = {Particularly rich in nutritional elements, and with excellent agronomic characteristics, sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is an important crop for food security. It has the potential to improve the nutritional status of rural populations in an inexpensive and sustainable way. In Côte d'Ivoire, sweet potato is grown in all regions, but is unfortunately faced with a number of phytosanitary problems, in particular Cylas puncticollis, weevil which is the main threat. This insect can cause crop losses of up to 97%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a biopesticide based on lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil against C. puncticollis. Five doses (1%, 2%, 4%, 8% and 16%) of biopesticide were prepared from essential oil extracted from lemongrass. These different doses were applied to sweet potato leaves fed to adult C. puncticollis individuals reared in the laboratory, compared with an untreated control. Monitoring of the weevil mortality rate for each treatment over 15 days showed that the 8% and 16% doses were the most effective, with mortality rates of 87% and 97% respectively one week after application. These preliminary results constitute an important step in the evaluation of the possibility of using the essential oil of C. citratus in an integrated management strategy for sweet potato weevils.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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    AU  - Kinampinan Adelphe Hala
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    JF  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    JO  - American Journal of Life Sciences
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    AB  - Particularly rich in nutritional elements, and with excellent agronomic characteristics, sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is an important crop for food security. It has the potential to improve the nutritional status of rural populations in an inexpensive and sustainable way. In Côte d'Ivoire, sweet potato is grown in all regions, but is unfortunately faced with a number of phytosanitary problems, in particular Cylas puncticollis, weevil which is the main threat. This insect can cause crop losses of up to 97%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a biopesticide based on lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil against C. puncticollis. Five doses (1%, 2%, 4%, 8% and 16%) of biopesticide were prepared from essential oil extracted from lemongrass. These different doses were applied to sweet potato leaves fed to adult C. puncticollis individuals reared in the laboratory, compared with an untreated control. Monitoring of the weevil mortality rate for each treatment over 15 days showed that the 8% and 16% doses were the most effective, with mortality rates of 87% and 97% respectively one week after application. These preliminary results constitute an important step in the evaluation of the possibility of using the essential oil of C. citratus in an integrated management strategy for sweet potato weevils.
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  • Abstract
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  • Document Sections

    1. 1. Introduction
    2. 2. Material and Methods
    3. 3. Results
    4. 4. Discussion
    5. 5. Conclusion
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  • Abbreviations
  • Acknowledgments
  • Author Contributions
  • Data Availability Statement
  • Conflicts of Interest
  • References
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