EFFECT OF BOTANICAL OILS ON THE PULSE BEETLE Callosobruchus chinensis L. IN STORED CHICKPEA SEEDS

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the Department of Entomology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur during May to November 2019. Pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. is an important pest of stored chickpea and widely distributed. There are different control methods against pulse beetle which has serious drawbacks. As an alternative control method, botanical oils have been successfully used against this pest. The efficacy of five botanical oils was assessed for their grain protectant against the attack of C. chinensis. All the tested oils were effectively reduced oviposition, adult emergence, seed infestation and weight loss compared to control. Neem and kalozira oils showed best performance to reduced adult emergence, seed infestation and seed weight loss while applied those at the rate of 5% concentration. Both neem (99.23%) and kalozira (98.44%) oils provided the highest inhibition rate of adult emergence when egg bearing seeds were treated at 5% concentration. Additionally, neem (93.02%) and kalozira (87.59%) oils also markedly reduced the adult emergence while larva bearing seeds were treated at 5% concentration. Therefore, neem and kalozira oils would be used for the protection of chickpea seeds from the infestation of C. chinensis.