ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze and determine the termiticidal potential of Chromolaena odorata (L.

) RM King & H Robinson (Hagonoy). This study utilized the experimental method of research which focused on the use standard laboratory diagnostic procedures implicated in termiticidal potential of hagonoy in terms of the length of time for the termites to die upon application of the various treatments. The methods used were collection and preparation of plant material, the preparations on decoction from hagonoy leaves, expressed juice, methanol extract, Solignum, and the application of the various substances to the termites. Specifically, this study tested if there were significant differences in the length of time the termites were killed between pair of treatments and after the application of the various treatments which were T1 positive control, commercial pesticide (Solignum), T2  leaf decoction from C. odorata, T3  expressed leaf juice from C. odorata, T4  30% C. odorata leaf extract solution, and T5  60% C. odorata leaf extract solution. The data gathered were tabulated and computed using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine whether significant differences exist in the length of time the termites were killed after the exposure to the five treatments. Scheff's Test was used to find out where the difference lies among the five treatments and which among the treatments had the greatest termiticidal potential. The study revealed that there were significant differences in the length of time the termites were killed among the various treatments and between the pair of treatments. The data gathered showed that sample termites in 60% C. odorata leaf extract solution has the least length of time with a mean of 1.29 minutes. This was followed by T1 (positive control, Solignum) with a mean 1.45 minutes, 30% C. odorata leaf extract solution with a mean of 1.47, and leaf decoction from C. odorata with a mean of 1.77. The treatment with the longest time for the sample to die was the expressed leaf juice from C. odorata with a mean of 2.15 minutes. The F test showed that there were significant differences among the means of the five treatments at 0.05 significance level. The Scheff's Test implies that the positive control and 30% C. odorata methanol leaf extract solution were equally efficient. Furthermore, since all comparisons with 60% C. odorata leaf extract solution which has the shortest mean time are significantly different, then it could be concluded that 60% hagonoy methanol leaf extract solution is the best among the five treatments.

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Chapter I INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Plants are considered as one of the most significant endeavors to study. All life on Earth depends directly or indirectly on the plants for food and for other purposes. Some of these contain thousands of medicinal compounds (Quisumbing, 1978) while the others have potential as insecticide (http://encarta.msn.com). Chromolaena odorata, locally known as Hagonoy or Hagonoi, is a shrub that is widely distributed to many parts of the tropics. However, many farmers do not seem to mind its benefits because these are problems in agricultural land and commercial plantations. Chromolaena odorata (hagonoy) is a pest abundant in our country (Padilla, et. Al., 2006) It is proven that hagonoy causes diarrhea when ingested or even fetal deaths among animals. It also reduces the carrying capacity of the field to grow more beneficial weeds. (CPD Technoguide No. 8, 2003). People even regard this as unusable. Because of this perception, the researchers decided to make something out of Chromolaena odorata (Hagonoy). The plant could be used as a termiticide. Termites are some of the loathed and hated pests in the Philippines because they feed on woods and weaken its structure and they are considered pest by local people. For this reason, the researchers developed termiticide out of Chromolaena odorata (hagonoy) plant. 2 According to Padilla, et al., the use of pesticide is really prevalent to industrial countries like the Philippines. They are used in comforts of their business establishments and even at home to eliminate the huge number of pests. And one of the pests, considered as problem of Filipinos today are the destructive termites. With these concerns, the researchers were motivated to investigate the termiticidal potential of Chromolaena odorata (hagonoy). Objectives of the Study The main purpose of this study is to formulate a potential solution to the focal problems presented in Figures 1 and 2, which are the destructive termites and the dependence on insecticides by developing a termiticide out of C. odorata. The study purported to evaluate the termiticidal potential of Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Robinson (Hagonoy). In the study reported herein, it sought to: 1. Test termiticidal potential of Chromolaena odorata in terms of the length of time the termites are killed after the application of the five treatments. 2. Determine the significant differences in the length of time the termites are killed when exposed to the five treatments. 3. Analyze the significant differences in the length of time the termites are killed between pairs of

treatments. 3 In this regard, the researchers were encouraged to investigate the termiticidal potential of Chromolaena odorata (hagonoy) and to develop ways of putting C. odorata to beneficial uses as an effective alternative termiticide. Null Hypotheses The following null hypotheses were tested in the study: 1. There are no significant differences in the length of time the termites are killed after application of the five treatments. 2. There are no significant differences in the length of time the termites are killed between pairs of treatments. Significance of the Study Results of this study may be beneficial to the following: a. People and industry. This study may serve as a benchmark on termite eradication. This study may also serve as a springboard towards the discovery of potentially new natural foundations of pesticides from plants. After several years of research efforts, the problems on C. odorata remained unsolved. In this unfolding scenario, it is necessary to develop ways of putting C. odorata to beneficial uses (Bamikole, 2004). It can be used as a source alternative foundations as termiticide which is health and environment friendly. People living in far flung areas and places that cannot be reached by modern products may also benefited by this study. b. Future researchers. The results of this study would provide baseline information that may serve as a frame of reference to the future researchers who become ardently absorbed in this study; and c. The Researchers. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the pool of knowledge about the termiticidal properties of plants like Chromolaena odorata. Ultimately, the results of this study will serve as the potential solution to the focal problems on the destructive termites and the peoples dependence on insecticides. Scope and Limitation The concern and focus of this study was limited to the termiticidal potential of C. odorata making use of 5 (five) treatments which can be found in Figure 3. Effects of the positive control, hagonoy leaf decoction, expressed juice, and methanol extracts were determined based on the length of time the termites are killed upon the application. The extracting solvent used was a technical grade methanol. Thus, the component that can only be extracted using methanol was considered. Distilled water was used as the solvent for the treatments that used expressed juice and decoction (Biagtan, De Guzman, Mangay ayam, 2007).