“Efficacy Of Diatomaceous Earth (Protect-It) On Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus Chinensis (Lauthor)”

Cent per cent mortality of pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis was noticed in diatomaceous Earth(DE) @ 0.3, 0.25, 0.2 and 0.15 per cent at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after treatment (DAT). However, no mortality was recorded in control during the storage period of two months. Significantly least number of eggs (39.15) and least adult emergence (31.69) from DE @ 0.3 % which was followed by DE @ 0.25 % (40.70) and other lower concentrations tried. However, maximum number of eggs (99.66) and adultemergence (371) were noticed in untreated control as well as in lowest concentration tested (0.025%).No seed damage (37.50 and 43.68%) and no weight loss (38.31 and 41.49%) were recorded in DE @ 0.3and 0.25% which were on par with DE @ 0.2 % respectively. DE @ 0.3 and 0.25% recorded higher seedgermination (96.66% and 96.00%) and were found to be more effective.