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Discussion

Present results in this study show that extracts of Makabuhay plant is effective against
rice weevils and its effectiveness is highly determined on its concentration and exposure interval.
In fact, the bioefficacy of the different parts of Makabuhay is well depicted on the results of the
repellency and mortality tests against rice weevils (Tables 1 & 2). Result also suggests that
higher concentration of the extract is significantly better than the lower concentration in
combating the said insect pest. However, as the storage period increases, the mortality ratings
also decrease. This is true for all the plant parts at all concentrations but it can be noted (Tables 1
& 2) that the higher is the concentration, the better is its efficacy in combating rice weevils. This
is similar to the findings of Khoshnoud, et al. (2008) where they stated that higher concentrations
are much more effective than lower concentrations. Moreover, the efficacy of the Makabuhay
extracts is in agreement with the findings of Andala, et al., (1993) that the extract of Makabuhay
plant showed lower population of insect pest on rice and had significant higher yield than nontreated field because of its insecticidal property.
Although highest mean repellency rating was observed in the positive control
(commercial insecticide) but its effect is just comparable to the 15% concentration of the plant
extract. If the concentration is further increased to more than 15%, the effect of the positive
control may have been surpassed. This scenario is also the same with the mortality effect of the
extracts as compared to the positive control. Increasing the extracts concentration to more than
15% may have also surpassed the positive controls mortality effect although the result suggests
that it has the most significant effect compared to all concentrations of the plant extracts.
Furthermore, the findings of this study agree to earlier reports that indicated that most
plant extracts have insecticidal properties and can control pests by affecting other biological
activities (Schmutter, 1995; Mostafa, et al., 1996; Musabyimana, et al., 2001; Tinzaara, et al.,
2006). This maybe because of the secondary metabolites present in plants which are potent

against insect pests. Indeed, preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of
secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and steroids in all the parts of
Makabuhay. These chemicals maybe the reason why the Makabuhay plant extracts are effective
in combating rice weevils as measured in its repellency and mortality ratings. Kogan (1986)
reported that alkaloids had repellent, toxic and feeding inhibition effects on some insect pests.
Flavonoids were also reported to be toxic to some insects (Salama et al. 1970). Saponins on the
other hand protect the plants from parasites (Saponins, 2008) since it has been reported to exhibit
pesticidal activity (Irvine, 1961). Swain (1978) reported that the saponin derivatives inhibit the
larval growth and development and the tannin derivatives combines with protein and thus it
inhibited the enzyme activities and reduce the availability of protein in haemoloymph.

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