Gadung Extract Most Effective Against Snails on Nyawai Seedlings

Image: article cover, from Fajar and Beny (2020), Jurnal Wasian, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

A research team from the Banjarbaru Forestry and Environmental Research and Development Centre tested four natural substances to control the snail Achatina fulica (Ferussac, 1821) that attacks nyawai seedlings (Ficus variegata). The results, published in the Journal Wasian in 2020, showed that gadung tuber extract (Discorea hispida) was the most toxic, causing a snail mortality rate of 75 per cent.

In addition to gadung, the team tested extracts of sembung (Blumea balsamifera), tuba (Derris eliptica), and areca nut (Areca catechu) at various concentrations. Areca nut extract was the least effective, with a mortality rate of 49.75 per cent. According to the study, tuba, areca nut, and sembung extracts were most effective at a concentration of 50 g/l, whereas gadung already showed a strong effect at 10 g/l. The LC95 value for gadung was recorded at 80.63 g/l, much lower than that of areca nut, which reached 567.75 g/l.

Snail infestation is one of the constraints in nyawai development because it can cause seedling mortality. The use of these natural substances offers an alternative control method that is more environmentally friendly than chemical molluscicides. However, the research team cautions that application should take into account the level of pest infestation, as the effect of these botanical pesticides is slower than that of chemical molluscicides.

Source and how to cite

This story is based on the research article The Plants Extract Toxicity Againts Achatina fulica (Ferussac, 1821) in Nyawai Ficus variegata (Blume) by Fajar Lestari Fajar and Beny Rahmanto Beny, published in Jurnal Wasian Vol. 7 No. 1 (2020). The full article is free to read on the Jurnal Wasian website.

Cite the original article (APA 7):

Fajar, F. L., & Beny, B. R. (2020). The Plants Extract Toxicity Againts Achatina fulica (Ferussac, 1821) in Nyawai Ficus variegata (Blume). Jurnal Wasian, 7(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.62142/1ewcvx39

If you use these findings in coursework, a thesis or other writing, cite the original article above, not this news story. The original article is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.