The Effect of Groundnut Sucking Bug (Rhyparochromus littoralis Dist.) on the Oil Content of Groundnut Kernels on Two Groundnut Cultivars in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in Kano and Yola in order to expose two (2) groundnut cultivars (Kampala(V₁) and KwachambaV₂) to the ravaging groundnut sucking bug (Rhyparochromus littoralis Dist.).  The experiments were laid in a split plot design.  This was done in order to determine how long it takes the bug to cause damage on the groundnut pods.  Groundnuts were left on the field for 3, 7, 9, 14, 21 and 35 days before it was decorted.  It was observed that the higher the numbers of days the pods were left on the field, the higher the level of infestation.  To determine the effect of the suck on the oil content of the infested groundnuts, the Soxhlet Fat Extraction Method was used to extract oil from both infested and non infested groundnut in order to compare the oil content percentage based on the number of days each sample was exposed to the pest on the field. Results showed that percentage reduction in the oil content increases with increasing number of days the pods were exposed to the pest.  Overall, the average of results obtained revealed that up to 90% loss in oil content occurred due to the effect of R. littoralis which occurred on the 21 and 35 days the groundnuts were left on the field in both cultivars, as obtained in both locations where the field experiments were conducted.

Key Words: Groundnut, Infestation, Decorted, Damage, Oil content, Cultivars.