Biocidal Properties of Cymbopogon Citratus Extracts on Termite (Microcerotermes Beesoni)

The aim of this experiment was to provide a biological approach to termite control through the use of extracts of roots and shoots of Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus). This was a laboratory experiment that involved various treatments through in-vitro contact applications of plant extracts and a pre-screening experiment on solutions for lethal properties against termites. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratories of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology and the Chemical Sciences of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria between August, 2005 and March, 2006. The roots and shoots of C. citratus were obtained from its tuft, sundried for 4 weeks and chopped into match-stick sizes. Extracts were obtained from the plant through non-polar (n-hexane) and polar (ethanol) solvents. In the laboratory experiments, the efficacy of the obtained oil extracts in controlling termites were determined through contact tests on termite castes and mortality rate recorded. This was also compared to a control contact invitro experiments where water, concentrated n-hexane and ethanol were determined for efficacy in termite control. Means of the results obtained were separated using Tukey's Honestly Significant test. Analysis showed that there was no significant different at P < 0.05 between n-hexane shoots extract and n-hexane roots extract at 60seconds treatment applications. Observations showed that extracts obtained from all the parts were effective in the control of the different castes of termites with the n-hexane roots extract showing the fastest efficacy within 50seconds.