Efficacy of Edible Oils and Dried Leaf Powders Against Callosobruchus Maculatus F. On Cowpea

Laboratory experiment was conducted to find out the efficacy of edible oils and dried leaf powders against the pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) on cowpea seeds. The results revealed that among the edible oils groundnut (Arachis hypogea) oil was the most effective with less seed damage (6.98%), weight loss (1.30%) and maximum feeding index (97.66%) followed by mustard (Brassicajuncea) and gingelly (Sesamum indicum) oil. Among the plant powders, neemAzadirachta indica resulted in less seed damage (19.65%), weight loss (26.64%), and high feeding index (50.63%) followed by Eucalyptus globulus and Ipomoea sp. Both edible oils and dried leaf powders do not affect the germination of cowpea seeds up to 60 days of treatment.