Rodenticidal Potential of Gliricidia sepium

George Willard Gehan M. Siton IV

James Miyuki Sugimoto

Christian Gregg Rivera

Jason Galay

Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

South La Union Campus

College of Education

Laboratory High School

Agoo, La Union

Elective II (Research)

Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Plants are living organisms that belongs to the kingdom of plantae. They

include organism such as herbs, trees, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, green

algae. The study of plants, known as botany, has identified about 350,000

species of plants. Green plants sometimes called viridiplantae, obtain most of

their energy from sunlight and this process is called photosynthesis.

Gliricidia sepium(kakawate) is a multipurpose legume tree that is used in

many tropical and subtropical countries as a live fencing, fodder, coffee shade,

firewood, green manure and rat poison. In the Philippines, the extract obtained from

its leaves is used to remove external parasites .Gliricidia sepium (kakawate) is also

used for its medicinal and insect repellent properties. It is also a fast growing

ruderal species that takes advantage of slash and burn practices in its native range.

Rats are some of the hated pest in the Philippines because they feed on their

properties like clothes, shoes and more they can also cause diseases like

Leptospirosis, Eosinophilic Meningitis, Murine Typhus and more. For this reason, the

researchers developed a rodenticide out of Gliricidia sepium (kakawate) tree.

Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to formulate a potential solution to the

focal problems presented in Figures 1 and 2, which are the destructive termites

and the dependence on insecticides by developing a rodenticide out of G.

Sepium(kakawate).

The study purported to evaluate the Rodenticidal potential of Gliricidia

sepium(kakawate).

In the study reported herein, it sought to:

1. Test the Rodenticidal potential of Gliricidia Sepium(kakawate) in terms

of the length of time the termites are killed after the application of the

five treatments.

2. Determine the significant differences in the length of time the termites

are killed when exposed to the five treatments.

3. Analyze the significant differences in the length of time the termites are

killed between pairs of treatments.

Null Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses were tested in the study:

1. There are no significant differences in the length of time the termites

are killed after application of the five treatments.

2. There are no significant differences in the length of time the termites

are killed between pairs of treatments.

Damaging of our properties

And additional expenses to repair our properties

We buy more expensive rodenticide

Significance of the Study

Results of this study may be beneficial to the following:

A. People . This may serve as the main rodenticide people can use. This

is also cheap so all the People living in far‐flung areas and places

that cannot be reached by modern products may also benefit by

this study. Gliricidia sepium is also an environment friendly

rodenticide so can use it anytime without harming our planet.

B. Future researchers. The results of this study will give more

information about writing a research paper and about gliridia

sepium.

C. Researchers . This study will give us more knowledge about the

rodenticidal properties of plants like gliridia sepium.

Destructive

Lack of patience in killing the pest

Scope and Limitation

The concern and focus of this study was limited to the Rodenticidal

potential of G. Sepium making use of 5 (five) treatments.

Time and Location

This study was conducted at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State

University‐South La Union Campus, Laboratory High School, Agoo, La

Union.

Definition of Terms

Kakawate. A local term of Gliricidia sepium; the plant used in this study.

Insecticide.a pesticide used against insects

Rodenticide. A category of pest control chemicals intended to kill rodents.

Pesticide. any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing,

destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.

Rats.  various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea .

Conceptual Framework

INDEPENDENT VARIBLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

Treatment:

a. T1 –Bark decoction from Gliricidia

sepium.

b. T2 expressed bark juice ‐

from Gliricidia sepium.

c. T3 positive control,‐

(commercial pesticide)

Length of time the termites are killed after the exposure to:

a. Bark decoction from Kakawate.

b. Expressed bark juice from Kakawate.

c. Commercial Pesticide

Chapter II

Review of literature

In recent years, chemical pesticides have become the most important

consciously-applied form of pest management. This is a generalization of course

for some crops in some areas, alternative forms of pest control are still used

heavily.

The "first generation" pesticides were largely highly toxic compounds, such as

arsenic and hydrogen cyanide. Their use was largely abandoned because they

were either too ineffective or too toxic.

Throughout history, various types of pests, such as insects, weeds,

bacteria, rodents, and other biological organisms, have bothered humans or

threatened human health. People have been using pesticides for thousands of

years to try to control these pests. The Chinese used mercury and arsenic

compounds to control body lice and other pests. The Greeks and Romans used

oil, ash, sulfur, and other materials to protect themselves, their livestock, and

their crops from various pests. And people in various cultures have used smoke,

salt, spices, and insect-repelling plants to preserve food and keep pests away.

(http://www.chemistryexplained.com/ )

Rodents

Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by

two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept

short by gnawing. Forty percent of mammal species are rodents, and they are found

in vast numbers on all continents other than Antarctica. Common rodents

include mice, rats, squirrels, porcupines,beavers, chipmunks, guinea pigs,

and voles. Rodents have sharp incisors that they use to gnaw wood, break into food,

and bite predators. Most eat seeds or plants, though some have more varied diets.

Some species have historically been pests, eating seeds stored by people and

spreading disease.

In terms of number of species—although not necessarily in terms of

number of organisms (population) or biomass—rodents make up the largest

order of mammals. There are about 2,277 species of rodents (Wilson and

Reeder, 2005), with over 40 percent of mammalian species belonging to the

order.[5] Their success is probably due to their small size, short breeding cycle,

and ability to gnaw and eat a wide variety of foods. (Lambert, 2000)

Rodents are found in vast numbers on all continents except Antarctica, most

islands, and in all habitats except oceans. They are the only placental order,

other than bats (Chiroptera) andPinnipeds, to reach Australia without human

introduction.

Many rodents are small; the tiny African pygmy mouse can be as little as 6 cm

(2.4 in) in length and 7 g (0.25 oz) in weight at maturity, and theBaluchistan

Pygmy Jerboa is of roughly similar or slightly smaller dimensions. On the other

hand, the capybara can weigh up to 80 kg (180 lb), and the largest known

rodent, the extinctJosephoartigasia monesi, is estimated to have weighed about

1,000 kg (2,200 lb), and possibly up to 1,534 kg (3,380 lb) or 2,586 kg (5,700

lb).

Rodents have two incisors in the upper as well as in the lower jaw which grow

continuously and must be kept worn down by gnawing; this is the origin of the

name, from the Latin rodere, to gnaw. These teeth are used for cutting wood,

biting through the skin of fruit, or for defense. The teeth have enamel on the

outside and exposed dentine on the inside, so they self-sharpen during gnawing.

Rodents lack canines, and have a space between their incisors and premolars.

Nearly all rodents feed on plants, seeds in particular, but there are a few

exceptions which eat insects or fish. Some squirrels are known to

eat passerine birds like cardinals and blue jays.

Rodents are important in many ecosystems because they reproduce rapidly, and

can function as food sources for predators, mechanisms for seed dispersal, and

as disease vectors. Humans use rodents as a source of fur, as pets, as model

organisms in animal testing, for food, and even for detecting landmines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Gliricidia sepium

Gliricidia sepium is a versatile, fast-growing tree favored by farmers for

living fences, fuel, fodder, green manure, shade, support for crops, and erosion

control. It Steudel is a small to medium sized tree attaining heights of 2 to 15

meters. It may be either a single or multiple stem tree with trunk diameters

reaching 30 cm. The bark is grayish-brown to whitish and may be deeply

furrowed on old, large diameter trees. Leaves are pinnately compound,

alternate in arrangement and 20 to 30 cm in length. Leaflets are generally

opposite in arrangement, oblong in shape and pointed at the tip. On some

specimens leaflets may be elliptical with rounded tips. There are 7 to 25 leaflets

per leaf and size increases towards the tip. Leaflets are 40 to 80 mm long and

20 to 40 mm wide (Lavin 1996).

 Flower development corresponds to the beginning of the dry season when trees

have lost their leaves. In its native range flowering occurs November through

March. In areas without a pronounced dry season, flowering may occur

throughout the year but few pods form (Lavin 1996, Simons 1996). Flowers are

pink to light pink in color, fading to white with brown spots or faint purple with

age (Lavin 1996). The flowers are pollinated by the larger solitary bees Xylocopa

fimbriata andCentris species in the tree’s native range. Other potential

pollinators have trouble accessing the flower due to the rigidity of the keel

pedals (Simons 1996). A lack of effective pollinators will greatly hinder pod and

seed production. Pods can reach full size, 10 to 20 cm, within 3 weeks of

fertilization. The green succulent pods turn woody and yellow with maturity,

which requires 35 to 60 days. Pods contain 3 to 10 seeds and are explosively

dehiscent (Lavin 1996, Simons 1996). Seed collection is recommended prior to

pods.

 Gliricidia sepium is native to the lowland dry forests from sea level to

1,200 m. It is uncommon above this elevation because of its sensitivity to cold.

The temperature range is 20 to 30° C. It performs poorly below this range but

will tolerate temperatures as high as 42° C (Glover 1989). Rainfall is generally

from 900 to 1,500 mm/year, but may be as low as 600 mm or as high as 3,500

mm (Simons 1996). The dry season varies from 3 to 8 months,

however Gliricidia sepium survives dry seasons of 9 months in Indonesia.

  It grows well on many soil types; volcanic, sandy, stony, and heavy clays,

including Vertisols. It is reported to tolerate some salinity and slightly alkaline

soils. It will tolerate acid soils, but not severe acidity (pH less than 4.5) nor high

aluminum saturation (greater than 60%). An aggressive pioneer, gliricidia

readily colonizes infertile soils and reclaims Imperata grasslands (MacDicken et

al 1997). Its name gamal means ‘Imperata killer’. It sprouts quickly after fire and

thus may benefit from burning.

Chapter III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter deals with the materials, methods, and procedures used in

the preparation of the different test substances and its application to termites. It

also includes the data gathered and the statistical analysis of the data. Research

flowchart is also presented in Figure 3.

Materials

Plant material – Gliricidia sepium

Test organism – termites

Laboratory apparatus – triple beam balance, spatula, stirring rod, beaker,

Erlenmeyer flask, graduated cylindeccr, petri dish, scissor, timer, blender, rotary

evaporator, desiccators, sprayer, clean containers

Chemicals ‐ chemical termiticide (Solignum), technical grade methanol

Others – distilled water

Research Design

The study did not use any design for the reason that studies such as this one,

concerned treatment of the experimental animals done by batches or done one

after the other and not at the same time.

In line with this, this study utilized the experimental method of research using

standard laboratory diagnostic procedures involved in termiticidal potential of

hagonoy. 26

The study used five treatments, which are as follows:

a. T1 – Bark Decoction fron Gliricidia sepium.

b. T2 – expressed bark juice from Gliricidia sepium.

c. T3 – positive control (commercial pesticide).

Collection and Preparation of Plant Material

Barks of Gliricidia sepium were removed from the plant. The barks were washed

by running water.

Preparation of Decoction from C. odorata Leaves

About 80 grams of Gliricidia sepium were boiled in 250 mL water. Boiling was

done for about 16 minutes. Afterwards, the mixture is allowed to cool then

placed in a clean container. Eventually, the mixture was filtered using filter

paper. The filtrate collected was the decoction used in the treatment.

Preparation of Expressed Juice

About 80 grams of Gliricidia sepium Bark were pounded using mortar and pestle

and squeezed using a clean cheese cloth. The obtained juice was filtered using

filter paper. Finally, the expressed leaf juice was placed in a clean container. 27

Test Organism

A total of 27 Swiss rats in more or less uniform in sizes were collected

from Agoo, La Union. After the collection, the test organisms were placed in

their own cages. Each cages contains two rats.

Application of the Test Substances

Five (5) treatments namely T1 – Bark Decoction fron Gliricidia sepium; T2

‐ expressed bark juice from Gliricidia sepium, T3 ‐ positive control (commercial

pesticide) extract solution were utilized in the study. The test substances were

sprayed once to the sample rats by using sprayer. These doses were

administered once for each treatment. The rodenticidal effects were observed

as to the length of time the rats are killed. The treatment was replicated three

(3) times.

Data Gathered

The following data was collected during the course of the study:

The length of time the termites were killed. The data on the length of time the

termites were killed after the application of the test substances was determined

using timer in minutes. This was done for every replication.

Data Analysis

The data gathered were tabulated and computed using the following statistical

tools:

1. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine whether significant

differences exist in the length of time the termites are killed among the

five rats; and

2. Scheffé's Test to find out where the difference lies and determines which

among the five treatments has the greatest rodenticidal potential.

Preparation and collection of resources used in the study:

a. plant material b. test organisms c. laboratory apparatuses and equipment d. chemicals, etc.

Preparation of various test substances:

a. Positive control b. leaf decoction from kakawatec. expressed bark juice from

kakawate

Application of the various test substances to the test organisms (rats)

Gathering of data: a. length of time for the test

organisms to die as affected by various test substances

Analyzing the data gathered using the following statistical tools:

a. Analysis of Variance b. Scheffé's Test