Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, India.
Studies were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of botanicals on seed deterioration and bruchid infestation in cowpea cv. Co 4. The seeds were dry dressed with leaf powders of neem (Azadiracta indica) and soapnut (Sapindus emarginatus) (@ 10 and 20 g kg−1 of seed), rhizome powders of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and vasambu (Acorus calamus) (@ 5 and 10 g kg−1 of seed) and evaluated along with Deltamethrin and control revealed that rhizome powders of Acorus calamus @ 10 g kg−1 and leaf powder of Sapindus emarginatus @ 20 g kg−1 could control both bruchid infestation and seed deterioration rate recording 94 per cent germination after four months of storage with nil percentage of insect infestation.
