Page 1 of 19
European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 13, No. 1
Publication Date: February 25, 2025
DOI:10.14738/aivp.131.18096.
Félix, N. K., Daouda, S., Marius, B. H., & Chatigre, K. O. (2025). Use Sensory Analysis to Optimize Corn Seed Storage Methods in a
Triple Bagging and Biopesticide System (Leaves of Lippia multiflora Moldenke and Hyptis suaveolens Poit) in Côte D'ivoire.
European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 13(1). 79-97.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Use Sensory Analysis to Optimize Corn Seed Storage Methods in a
Triple Bagging and Biopesticide System (Leaves of Lippia
multiflora Moldenke and Hyptis suaveolens Poit) in Côte D'ivoire
N’Dri Kouakou Félix
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Food Sciences,
Training and Research Unit of Biosciences,
Felix Houphouet-Boigny University,
22 BP 582, Abidjan 22, Cote d’Ivoire
Sidibé Daouda
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Food Sciences,
Training and Research Unit of Biosciences,
Felix Houphouet-Boigny University,
22 BP 582, Abidjan 22, Cote d’Ivoire
Biego Henri Marius
Department of Public Health, Hydrology and Toxicology,
Training and Research Unit of Pharmacological and
Biological Sciences, Felix Houphouet-Boigny University,
BP 34 Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Kouamé Olivier Chatigre
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Food Sciences,
Training and Research Unit of Biosciences,
Felix Houphouet-Boigny University,
22 BP 582, Abidjan 22, Cote d’Ivoire
ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of dried leaves of Lippia multiflora and Hyptis suaveolens on maize
grains stored in a triple bagging system was tested. A three-factor central composite
design (CCD) affecting the storage of maize grains was used to monitor changes in
sensory quality, namely moldy aroma and rancid odor, during storage. The first CCD
factor comprised six observation periods: 0, 1, 4.5, 9.5, 14.5, and 18 months. The
second factor was the type of treatment, which consisted of 1 control batch with
polypropylene bags (WB) and 9 experimental batches, including 1 in a triple bag
without biopesticides (TBS0) and eight (8) additional batches containing ratios
and/or combinations of biopesticides (TB1 to TB8). Finally, the third factor
concerned the combination of two biopesticides, with the percentage (%) of Lippia
multiflora as the reference. The results indicate that the ideal conditions for
maintaining the sensory quality of maize grains during storage, based on the
intensity of the rancid odor and moldy aroma, are achieved under the following
conditions: Storage period: 18 months. Ratio of biopesticides to maize: 2.5%-
Combination of biopesticides: 100% Lippia multiflora or 100% Hyptis suaveolens
Page 2 of 19
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom 80
European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 13, Issue 1, February-2025
under the best-expected conditions, the experimental values were: rancid odor
4.10±0.25 and musty aroma 3.70±0.37.
Keywords: Biopesticides, descriptive sensory analysis, stored maize, triple bagging,
optimization.
INTRODUCTION
Sustainable agriculture is a means of ensuring environmental stability, food security, and
poverty eradication in sub-Saharan African countries [1]. Due to rapid population growth and
low agricultural productivity, many African countries face recurring food emergencies and
uncertainty in food aid. Thus, it is important to find solutions to protect foodstuffs such as
cereals in the region. [2].
In Côte d'Ivoire, agriculture is crucial to food security (World Bank, 2007). This sector supports
the subsistence of over 70% of the population and contributes around 28% to the national gross
domestic product [3]. In addition to coffee and cocoa, cereals such as rice and maize are
essential agricultural products [4].
Maize ranks seventh in agricultural production and second in cereal production after rice [5],
with annual national production rising from 760,000 metric tons in 2016 to 1,006,000 metric
tons in 2018, for a total sown area of 386,633 ha [6]. It is an important element in agricultural
activities and in the diet of Ivorian populations, accounting for 68% of total national cereal
production. Its primacy has continued to grow thanks to government policies, which have
encouraged the selection and popularization of improved varieties in a bid to increase
production with a view to food self-sufficiency [7] [8].
However, this cereal is often destroyed by insect pests during storage and requires further
research to reduce losses. Indeed, Sitophilus zeamais, Tribolium castaneum, and Plodiainter
punctella [9] [10] are the main insect pests that damage maize grain stocks in Côte d'Ivoire,
leading to rapid crop degradation. The losses caused by these insects in large-scale post-harvest
maize storage farming systems are considerable. They are estimated at between 20% and 80%
after just a few months' storage using traditional methods [11] [12] [13].
Because of the threat posed by these insects, some farmers sell their maize early to avoid the
previously mentioned losses. Others treat their crops with synthetic insecticides of unproven
efficacy [14], whose widespread use leads to serious environmental pollution, affects human
health, and causes the death of non-target organisms [15] [16]. Despite the extent of the damage
caused by these chemicals, the application of biopesticides as an alternative solution has been
promoted in recent decades [17] [18] [19]. The use of plants for protection is an ancient
practice that makes food almost available in rural areas, where agricultural production is
seasonal while consumer needs are spread throughout the year. These aromatic plants and
their derivatives are an effective means of pest control. They are less expensive and guarantee
biodiversity [20] [21] [22] [23]. Lippia multiflora and Hyptis suaveolens, local plants accessible
in all regions of Côte d'Ivoire, have been the subject of several works on biofunctional
properties [24][25]. In addition, recent studies of maize grain storage in Côte d'Ivoire have
Page 3 of 19
81
Félix, N. K., Daouda, S., Marius, B. H., & Chatigre, K. O. (2025). Use Sensory Analysis to Optimize Corn Seed Storage Methods in a Triple Bagging and
Biopesticide System (Leaves of Lippia multiflora Moldenke and Hyptis suaveolens Poit) in Côte D'ivoire. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol -
13(1). 79-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.131.18096
shown the effectiveness of triple bagging systems associated with or not with Lippia multiflora
and Hyptis suaveolens leaves on market and sanitary quality.
However, this less costly method of preservation would be better valued if it integrated sensory
testing, as the latter has the inevitable advantage of seeking to assess a food's character using
the tool that will ultimately be the final judge when the product is consumed, namely man. In
this sense, sensory analysis is reliable and inevitably yields the best results. Accordingly, the
present work contributes to determining a minimum concentration of Lippia multiflora and
Hyptis suaveolens leaves that will sustainably preserve the sensory quality of corn kernels. This
approach is based on a composite central experimental design to optimize the post-harvest
storage of maize kernels in triple bagging systems. This surface-response methodology makes
it possible to optimize post-harvest storage by determining an ideal (minimal and effective)
proportion and/or combination of Lippia multiflora and Hyptis suaveolens leaves to
sustainably stabilize the parameters of grain sensory quality deterioration.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Site
The experiment was carried out at the Laboratoire de Biochimie et Sciences des Aliments
(LaBSA) of the UFR Biosciences at the Université Félix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY. The bags were
kept in a laboratory storage room at 27.78 ±0.19°C and 75.0 ±0.99% relative humidity. Wooden
pallets were placed on the floor to support the bags.
Biological Materials
Collection of Maize Kernels Used in the Study:
Dry maize kernels were obtained from growers in the Hambol region of north-central Côte
d'Ivoire, in the department of Katiola, between 8°10' North and 5°40' West just after harvest. It
is an improved GMRP-18 variety with a yellow morphotype and a short production cycle of 90-
95 days.
Collection and Processing of Biopesticides:
The Biochemistry and Food Science Laboratory has been working on the conservation of
cereals, legumes and other agricultural products for many years. Biopesticides represent a very
good alternative in the fight against pests and fungi. In this study, Lippia multiflora and Hyptis
suaveolens were chosen for their phytosanitary properties. These are perennial, fragrant
shrubs found spontaneously in the central and northern zones of Côte d'Ivoire [26] [27]. Leaves
of L multiflora and H suaveolens were harvested and sun-dried for one week in the Gbéké
region of Côte d'Ivoire. Dried leaves were chopped into fine particles before use.
Methods
Experimental Set-up:
The conservation tests carried out in this study were implemented on the basis of a composite
central design (CCD) as proposed by the work of Konan et al [29] modified. This is a second- degree polynomial model experimental design that aims to highlight existing relationships
between an explained variable and explanatory variables. It involved studying these
relationships by varying all the factors or parameters and assessing the effect of variations on
the response [30] in order to highlight the interactions between these factors.