Effectiveness of Breadfruit Leaf Powder (Artocarpus altilis) in Controlling Rice Weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.) Using the Tea Bag Method

Abstract

The rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.) is commonly found in stored rice and causes reductions in both weight and quality. Efforts to control this pest using plant-based materials have gained increasing attention due to their environmental safety, one of which involves the use of breadfruit leaves (Artocarpus altilis) that contain compounds with potential insecticidal properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of breadfruit leaf powder in suppressing the population of S. oryzae through application using tea bags. The experiment employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments, namely 0 g, 5 g, 10 g, and 15 g of powder per 100 g of rice, with four replications. Observed parameters included mortality, daily mortality rate, and LD₅₀ value, which were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Duncan’s multiple range test, and probit analysis. The highest dose (15 g) resulted in 50% mortality and the highest mortality rate with an average of 3.125 individuals per day, while the control treatment caused no mortality during the observation period. The LD₅₀ value obtained from probit analysis was 15.717 g per 100 g of rice. These results indicate that increasing the dose of breadfruit leaf powder is directly proportional to its toxic effect, which is presumably associated with the activity of secondary metabolites that disrupt the physiological functions of insects. Overall, breadfruit leaf powder shows potential as a simpler and safer pest control material for rice storage.