Evaluation of Plant Oils as Grain Protectant Against Callosobruchus chinenis Linnaeus in Black Gram Under Storage Condition

Plant oils were evaluated for their grain protectant efficiency against Callosobruchus chinensis Linnaeus in stored black gram. Black gram seeds treated with neem, castor and groundnut oil @ 1 per cent (v/w) recorded significantly higher adult mortality (more than 68%) of C. chinensis during storage period of six months, higher half-live values (e" 83 days), higher gross persistency (4658.03 to 4502.50) and lower population growth (d" 4.48 adult emergence). These oil treatments were also found organoleptically more acceptable to human for consumption.