PAPER TITLE :EVALUATION OF OILS OF JATROPHA CURCAS AND ELAEIS GUINEENSIS AS WOOD PROTECTANTS AGAINST SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES

FUTA JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE | VOLUME 8 NUMBER 2 2012

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : O.E. Ajayi
  • Abstract:

Petroleum ether extracted oils of physic (Jatropha curcas (L.)), palm kernel (Elaeis guineensis (Jacq)) and
locally extracted palm kernel oil (PKO) were tested as wood protectants against subterranean termites using
Triplochiton scleroxylon as wood substrate in vitro at 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20% concentration levels
for each oil. Untreated, solvent treated, standard control (Diazinon) and experiment to determine effect of
environmental factors on weight reduction of substrate wood were also set up. All treatments were
replicated three times. Treated wood was exposed to termite and observed on weekly basis for signs of
infestation for 12 weeks. Weight difference between the initial weight of substrate wood before field trial
and final weight at 12 weeks of trial was used as index of protectant-ability of the plant oils. There was no
significant difference (P>0.05) between effectiveness of petroleum ether extracted oil of J. curcas seed and
locally extracted PKO at 100% treatment and the standard preservative. All the oils significantly (P<0.05)
protected wood for twelve weeks but the degree of effectiveness varies with concentration, plant species
and extraction method. The oils, from the result obtained have some inherent potential to protect wood
against damage by termite.
Keywords: Elaeis guineensis, Protectant-ability Jatropha curcas, oil, Triplochiton scleroxylon