DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2020.v08i02.006

Pages: 51-56

The results of cytogenetic effects of extracts from the leaves of Tephrosia vogelii by using the meiotic process in the African pest grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus is presented in this paper. Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) is the main grasshopper pest in humid forest areas of West and Central Africa and is reported to be the third most important insect pest in the humid forest zone of Cameroon. The plant T. vogelii, is a soft woody branching small tree (0.5 to 4m tall) with dense foliage that is commonly planted in farms in the North West Region of Cameroon is a known repellant of Z. variegatus. In Cameroon and some other African countries, T. vogelii is used for several ethno-medical and traditional veterinary practices, as well as a soil enrichment and pest control agent. So far, no information on the cytogenotoxic activity of T. vogelii exists in available literature. The present study therefore was aimed to evaluate the cytogenotoxic effects of extracts from the leaves of T. vogelii by using the meiotic process in the African pest grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus. Fifth instar nymphs of Z. variegatus were treated with 0.1ml of different concentrations (0µg/l, 5µg/l and 10µg/l) of aqueous extracts prepared from 100gm of powdered leaves of T. vogelii. The extract induced several prominent chromosomal aberrations in the germ-line cells of Z. variegatus that included: Laggards, Disturbed Metaphases and Anaphases, bridges sticky chromosomes and vagrant chromosomes. The formation of sticky chromosomes, laggards and bridges were the most numerous aberrations recorded. Chromosome breaks, disturbed spindles, chromosome loss were rare. Pictures of these abnormalities are presented and their implications on the meiotic process in Z. variegatus are discussed. The findings from this study suggest that the leaves of T. vogelii possess strong cytogenotoxic properties to the germ-line cells of Z. variegatus.