Efficacy of some indigenous plant products against pulse beetle callosobruchus spp on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata. L. Hepper.) seeds

Herbal leaf powders of Ocimum basilicum, Vitex negundo and Azadirachta indica each at 10 percent (w/w) concentration were mixed with cowpea seeds and stored under ambient storage condition in cloth bags. The efficacy of Azadirachta and Vitex were the highest in suppressing oviposition of Callosobruchus spp and maintaining viability of seeds in cowpea cv. CO 6 up to 6 months and could be recommended as a better alternative to the chemical seed treatments.