Bio-efficacy of plant powders against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. on green gram (Vigna radiata) under stored conditions

During storage pulse beetle is most destructive pest in green gram. It affects the seed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The present experiment conducted during 2020-2021, evaluated the efficacy of indigenous plant powders and oils on against C. chinensis in green gram under stored conditions. Seven plant powders viz., sweet flag (Acorus calamus), neem bark (Melia azaderach), lemon grass (Cymbopogan nardus), pepper (Piper nigrum), turmeric (Curcuma longa), tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), mint (Mentha arvensis) and an insecticide fenvalerate 0.4 DP @ 1g/ 50g seed as a check were evaluated. Sweet flag treated seeds showed high adult mortality (93.33%), less seed damage (4.67%), least weight loss (2.94%) and inhibited the adult emergence (26.33%) than others followed by M. azedarachta. C. nardus treated seed have less adult mortality (58.33%), high seed damage (61.67%), excessive weight loss (38.86%) and maximum adult emergence (72.33%) respectively.