Assessment of Chemical and Nutritional Composition of Seeds Attacked by Prosoestus spp (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Major Pests of Female Inflorescences of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)
Assiénin Hauverset N’Guessan
*
Laboratory of Entomology, National Center for Agronomic Research, Oil palm Research Sation, 13 BP 989 Abidjan 13, Côte d'Ivoire.
Bossoma Danielle Anougba
Laboratory of Ecology and Sustainable Development, Nangui Abrogoua University, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire.
N’Klo Hala
Laboratory of Entomology, National Center for Agronomic Research, Coconut Research Sation, 07 B.P. 13 Abidjan 07, Côte d'Ivoire.
Bazoumana Koné
Péléforo Gon Coulibaly University, Agro-pastoral Institute, BP 1328 Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire.
Gilles Léonces Niamkétchi
Laboratory of Biochemistry, National Center for Agronomic Research, Oil palm Research Sation, 13 BP 989 Abidjan 13, Côte d'Ivoire.
Gninfolo Jean-Baptisite Ouattara
Alassane Ouattara University (UAO), Center for Medical and Veterinary Entomology (CEMV), BP V 18 Bouaké 01, Côte d'Ivoire.
Gnanzou Emmanuel Florent Edoukou
Laboratory of Animal Biology, Péléforo Gon Coulibaly University, BP 1328 Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire.
Koua Alexandre Koffi
Alassane Ouattara University (UAO), Center for Medical and Veterinary Entomology (CEMV), BP V 18 Bouaké 01, Côte d'Ivoire.
Kouassi Allou
Laboratory of Entomology, National Center for Agronomic Research, Coconut Research Sation, 07 B.P. 13 Abidjan 07, Côte d'Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) has social, economic, and cultural importance in Côte d'Ivoire. From its roots to its leaves, and at every stage of its growth, it is exposed to many pests, the most important of which, affecting the female inflorescences, are Prosoestus minor and Prosoestus sculptilis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). This study was conducted at the National Center for Agronomic Research, station in La Mé. The aim was to assess, on the one hand, the extent of damage caused by these two pests to female inflorescences and, on the other hand, the chemical and nutritional components of the seeds obtained from their attacks. Two hundred (200) individuals of each species were captured and placed on female inflorescences at the beginning of anthesis, enclosed in muslin cages. Monitoring the bunches until maturity revealed that Prosoestus sculptilis causes more damage (71.51 ± 11.42%) to the bunches than P. minor (60.96 ± 16.93%). The oil content per fruit (THR) was lower in attacked seeds (P. minor = 18.49 ± 4.67%; P. sculptilis = 15.33 ± 6.14%) than in control seeds (42.19 ± 9.12%). In addition, the acidity and fluidity of the oil were more degraded because they were very high (7.68 ± 9.10; 161.11 ± 83.82) due to attacks by Prosoestus sculptilis. The concentration of most fatty acids such as lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and vitamins A and E contained in the oil from seeds attacked by these pests, does not comply with Codex Alimentarius standards, as it leads to a significant decrease in the physicochemical and nutritional quality of palm oil. Consequently, for sustainable food security, female inflorescences of oil palms must be effectively protected against attacks by these pests.
Keywords: Female inflorescence, nutritional component, physicochemical parameter, prososetus minor, prosoestus sculptilis, oil palm