Journal of Environmental Biology

Anti-termite properties of root and leaf powder of vetiver grass

S. Jayashree^1*, J. Rathinamala² and P. Lakshmanaperumalsamy³

¹Department of Biotechnology, Nehru Arts and Science College, T.M.Palayam, Coimbatore-641 105, India

²Department of Microbiology, Nehru Arts and Science College, T.M.Palayam, Coimbatore-641 105, India

³Karpagam University, Coimbatore-641 021, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: jaishri.subramanian@gmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

05 July 2012

Revised received:

07 January 2013

Revised received:

19 April 2013

Accepted:

03 June 2013

Abstract

A comparative study was conducted to determine the effect of roots and leaves of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides. L. Roberty) when used as mulch against Indian termites. The major subterranean species, Heterotermes indicola were taken for the study. In this, the vetiver root and leaves (1 kg) were shade dried and powdered in a pulverizer and tested against termites. The 100% vetiver root powder proved to decrease tunnelling activity and wood consumption. This also increased mortality rate of termites than leaf powder. To reach the food source, termites had to tunnel through the treatment chamber.? Three replicates were performed for each treatment.? Each container was covered and placed in a dark room at room temperature for 21 days. To maintain moisture, 10 ml of distilled water was added to the soil once in three days. Appropriate control without vetiver root and leaves were maintained separately and the tunnel length of termites was determined. On 7^th, 14^th and 21^st day, the tunnel length was determined by scanning the bottom of each container to fix the image of tunnels. Images were printed to actual size to measure the total tunnel length. The containers were dismantled to check the number of live termites in the treatments.? The number of live termites was counted from the compartments of nest chamber, treatment chamber and food chamber, to determine mortality. Wood? slices? were? cleaned,? dried? for? 2? hrs? and? weighed? to? determine consumption. The tunnel length of termites on different days (7^th, 14^th and 21^st day) showed a significant difference between the treatments (root and leaves) and control.

 Key words

hrysopogon zizanioides, Heterotermes indicola, Nest chamber, Tunnel length 

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