EFFICACY OF EDIBLE OILS AS GRAIN PROTECTANT AGAINST PULSE BEETLE, CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS (F) IN STORED BLACKGRAM SEED

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Department of Entomology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during May to October 2012. The efficacies of seven edible oils viz. kalozira, mustard, palm, soybean, til, coconut and rice bran were tested against the attack of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) in stored blackgram seed to evaluate the oviposition, adult emergence, seed infestation and weight loss. All the tested oils were effectively checked the oviposition, adult emergence, seed infestation and weight loss compared to control. The oils of mustard and kalozira at 8 to 6 ml/kg seed showed significant reduction of oviposition, and completely inhibited adult emergence, seed infestation and weight loss. No adult was emerged when egg bearing seeds were treated with those oils at 8 and 6 ml/kg seeds with 100% inhibition over control. However the larvae bearing seeds were treated significantly inhibited the adult emergence and provided maximum (64.19% and 56.94% respectively), inhibition for mustard and kalozira oils over control. Those oils did not show any adverse effects on seed germination up to three months. Therefore, the oils of mustard and kalozira can be used as a management tactic of C. maculatus in protecting blackgram seeds in store.