Effect of some botanicals on adult mortality, oviposition and development of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. on gram

The present study was taken up to assess locally available plant material viz, Melia azadarach, Parthenium hysterophorus, Justica adhatoda, Vitex trifolia, Zanthoxylum acathopodium and Azadirachta indica. These were evaluated @5g/40 seed of gram as grain protectants against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis. Among these Azadirachta indica and Zanthoxylum acathopodium were found more effective with 85.71% and 85.70% adults mortality after 7 days of treatment. The minimum number of eggs was recorded at 5g doses. At seventy days after treatment, minimum adult emergence (10.66 adults/40 seeds) was observed in Azadirachta indica leaf powder which was significantly different from other treatment followed by Vitex trifolia, Justica adhatoda, Melia azadarach and P.hysterophorus. The overall results indicated that neem leaf powder was found as effective grain protectants in suppressing the pulse beetle damage on gram.