Integration of Host Plant Resistance and Plant Materials for Management of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) in Stored Wheat

Fourteen wheat varieties were screened for grain resistance to lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) through standard no choice and free choice tests at 30±1°C and 70±2% relative humidity. The mean progeny beetle emergence per twenty grains ranged from 5.75–15.25, which revealed that a wider variability exist within the germplasms under evaluation. Through both the screening tests HD 2733 was found highly susceptible and HD 2643 as least susceptible. Two medicinal plants Giloe, Tinospora cordifolia (woody parts) and Jangli Imli, Phyllanthus niruri (whole plant) along with neem leaf powder were tested. The efficacy of plant powders at different rates (0.25, 0.50, 1.0 and 2.0%) was assessed on both least susceptible and highly susceptible variety. P. nirun was found more effective as compared to T. cordifolia in reducing the progeny beetle emergence both in case of least and highly susceptible varieties. One and two per cent doses of all the three plant powders were able to protect the weight loss completely although significant reduction was observed at 0.5% dose level.