SUPPRESSION OF PULSE BEETLE (CALLOSOBRUCHUS CHINENSIS L.) INFESTING STORED CHICKPEA WITH SOME BOTANICAL EXTRACTS

Abstract

Pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L., is an important pest of stored chickpea and widely distributed throughout the world. Chemical insecticides and fumigants are common control tactics against this notorious pest even though they have caused serious drawbacks. As an alternative control method, botanicals have been successfully used against the pest. The efficacy of six indigenous plant extracts prepared with two solvents viz. acetone and petroleum ether were assessed for their grain protectant efficacy against the attack of C. chinensis. The efficacy was evaluated considering oviposition, adult emergence, seed infestation and seed weight loss caused by C. chinensis. All the tested botanicals effectively checked the oviposition, adult emergence, seed infestation and weight loss as compared to control. It was found that the grain protectant efficacy of different botanicals, solvents and their interactions differed significantly (P<0.05) among the treatments. Results revealed that the lowest number of eggs (2.67) and egg bearing seeds (2.67), adults emerged (1.0), seed infestation (0.54%) and seed weight loss (0.06%) were found from the neem leaf extract with acetone at 1.5% concentration while the highest in the control untreated. Acetone extract of neem also provided the highest inhibition of oviposition (95.76%), adult emergence (97.08%) and seed infestation (97.92%) at 1.5% concentration over the control. Therefore, chickpea seeds treated with tested botanicals especially neem leaf extract with acetone may be used as eco-friendly management option for the suppression of C. chinensis in stores.