Efficacy of Some Oils as Seed Protectant Against Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) Attacking Chickpea

Efficacy of some oils viz., groundnut oil, mustard oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, neem oil, castor oil and karanj oil @ 5 and 10 ml kg⁻¹ of seeds against the pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis. L.) on chickpea was studied. The observations after 6 months of treatment revealed that the mean number of eggs laid per 50 seed was least in neem oil @ 10 ml/kg seed (8.61) followed by karanj oil @ 10 ml/kg seed (10.89) as against 41.89 in untreated check. The adult emergence in neem oil @ 10 ml/kg seed (0.00) was completely prevented. Results showed that the oils do effect the protoplasm of the egg and larval feeding, hence oils proved to be most effective and safest method to control the pulse beetle for stored pulses. Out of two dosages applied, 10 ml/kg seed was found most effective in minimizing the pest incidence.