Legume Research
Web of Science
  • Year: 2026
  • Volume: 49
  • Issue: 4

Comparative Assessment of Seed Treatment Agents against Eary Season Sucking Insect Pests in Short-duration Pulses

  • Author:
  • P.S. Shanmugam1*, R. Ramesh2**, S. Pavitharan3, M. Naveen1, M. Priyanka1, S. Anitta4, L. Karthiba4, M. Murugan1, V. Somasundaram1, V. Karthik1
  • Total Page Count: 10
  • Page Number: 638 to 647

1Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.

2National Pulses Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vamban, Pudukottai-622 303, Tamil Nadu, India.

3Central Silk Board, Bengaluru-560 068, Karnataka, India.

4Department of Pulses, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.

*Corresponding Authors: P.S. Shanmugam, Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Email: shanmugam.ps@tnau.ac.in

**R. Ramesh, National Pulses Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vamban, Pudukottai-622 303, Tamil Nadu, India. Email: ramesh.r@tnau.ac.in

Abstract

Short-duration pulses are vital in Indian diets and farming for nutrient recycling and soil health. Although over 200 insect pests affect these crops, early season damage caused by sucking insect pests is a major concern. Farmers manage pests only after crop damage. Protecting early-stage crops is crucial for higher yields. This study aimed to identify potential seed treatments for managing sucking insect pests in early-stage short-duration pulses.

Laboratory and field investigations were conducted to identify effective seed treatment components of chemical insecticides, entomopathogenic fungi and botanicals against sucking insect pests in blackgram and greengram.

Laboratory and field experiments showed chemical seed treatment insecticides were more effective in reducing sucking insect pest populations in blackgram and greengram, followed by entomopathogenic fungi. Azadirachtin 1% did not significantly affect sucking insect pest population in either crop.

Keywords

Blackgram, Botanicals, Entomopathogenic fungi, Greengram, Seed treatment, Sucking insects