Effect of different levels of Callosobruchus chinensis (Linn.) infestation on deterioration of some pulse seeds

Laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effect of different levels (zero beetle, one pair, two pairs, four pairs and eight pairs) of Callosobruchus chinensis infestation per 100 g seeds of pigeon pea (var. ICPL-87119), green gram (var. Dhauli) and black gram (var. PU-30) under ambient conditions (mean temperature of 28.4°C and 88.7% relative humidity). The results indicated that in all the pulse seeds the level of bruchid infestation was directly proportional to the F1 adult population count and per cent seed infestation on the basis of exit holes but inversely proportional to the germination percentage. Maximum rise in moisture content to the tune of 15–22% was recorded in the pulse seeds due to bruchid infestation. Microflora infection was noted in all the treatments but at higher level of infestation, high bacterial infection suppressed the fungal invasion.