Toxic Effect of Neem Leaf Powder (Azadirachta Indica, A.Juss) Against Callosobruchus Chinensis Infestation (Bruchidae: Coleoptera) on The Green Gram (Vigna Radiata) Seeds

The Bruchidae, as a family are almost entirely dependent upon legume seeds as a food source for the larvae and thus several species have become pests on legume seeds. The selected stored pest Callosobruchus chinensis was commonly found in stored grains. Neem leaves were collected, sun dried and powdered sin an electrical ground to get fine powder. The leaf powder was saved using 1mm mesh so as to remove larger particles. On the basis of the study on the physical and biological parameters in treated green gram seeds against Callosobruchus chinensis with three different concentrations at the interval of 10, 20, and 30 days, it was inferred that the neem leaf powder play a vital role in controlling the infection of Callosobruchus chinensis in stored seeds. It was inferred that both the neem products (NLP and NSAP) play a vital role in controlling the infestation of C.chinensis in stored seeds. Among the treatments, NLP treatments were found to be effective in destroying the pest. This might probably be due to the burning of neem stem to ash, which reduced the biocidal properties of neem products.