Evaluation of botanical powders and oils on Pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus in Black gram

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of plant powders viz., Acorus calamus rhizome, turmeric rhizome, pungam seed, neem seed kernel and neem leaf and plant oils viz., groundnut, coconut, sunflower, palm, neem and illuppai on bruchids infesting black gram (VBN (Bg) 6). Among the plant powders, in neem seed kernel powder (NSKP) (1%) treated seeds, bruchid laid less number of eggs and in this treatment seed weight loss was also low. In Acorus rhizome powder (1%) treatment, % seed damage was low and less number of adults emerged from the seeds treated with this powder. Among the plant oils tested, oviposition by bruchid was low in neem and groundnut oils (3%) treated seeds. Seed damage was less in groundnut and coconut oils treated seeds. Minimum seed weight loss was recorded in the seeds treated with coconut oil. Adult emergence was minimum in groundnut oil treated seeds.