Toxic Potential of Neem Stem Ash Powder (Azadirachta Indica, A. Juss) Against Callosobruchus Chinensis Infestation (Bruchide; Coleoptera) on The Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata) Seeds

Every year insect pests damaging pulse crops cause heavy economic loss. These pulses during storage are attacked by the most destructive pest Callosobruchus chinensis. Neem in different ways and in different formulation found effective against stored pests. Hence study was conducted to observe the toxic potential of Neem stem ash powder against the stored pests of cowpea seeds. The studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the neem stem ash powder on C. chinensis, and to analyze the protective action of neem products on the physical and biological parameters (colour, hardness, number of boreholes/seed damage, percent weight loss, percent protection of seeds and the number of eggs laid, adult emergence, percent adult mortality, percent reproductive success and growth index) of the infested seeds. In the present investigation, after application of NLP and NSAP of different doses, the results showed significant reduction in the adult emergence in treated seeds. From the statistical analysis of C. chinensis it was observed that all the treatments were significantly superior to control in minimizing the pest. In the present investigation, after application of NLP and NSAP, the results showed a significant reduction in the insect population with increasing percent adult mortality in treated grains