EFFECTIVENESS OF BOTANICAL OILS IN PROTECTING STORED GREEN GRAM FROM PULSE BEETLE, CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS (COLEOPTERA: BRUCHIDAE)

Abstract

The pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius (Bruchidae: Coleoptera), is a major pest of economically important leguminous grains. Experiments were conducted to study the bio-efficacies of different oils against pulse beetle, C. maculatu son green gram, Vigna radiate L., seeds. The efficacies of six edible and non edible oils viz. neem, castor, rice bran, olive oil, sunflower and karanja were tested against the attack of C. maculatus in stored green gram seed to estimate the oviposition, adult emergence, seed infestation and weight loss. Compared to control all the tested oils were efficiently checked the oviposition, adult emergence, seed infestation and weight loss. The result shown significant reduction of oviposition and completely inhibited adult emergence, seed infestation and weight loss by the oils of castor and karanja at 8 to 6 ml/kg seeds. No adult was emerged when egg bearing seeds were treated with those oils at 8 ml/kg seeds with 100% inhibition over control. However, the larvae bearing seeds were treated significantly inhibited the adult emergence and provided maximum (70.33% and 91.00% respectively) inhibition for castor and karanja oils over control. No adverse effects on seed germination were shown by all the tested oils up to three months storage. Consequently, the oils of castor and karanja can be used as a management way of C. maculatus for protecting green gram seeds in store.