Evaluation of Toxicity of Some Plant Materials Against the Bruchid (Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Mung Bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) Seeds in Storage

of Agriculture Umudike, to determine the toxicity of powders of Piper guineense fruits, Dennittia tripetala fruits Allium sativum bulbs, Zingiber officinale rhizomes against the cowpea seed bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae) on stored mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.)Wilczek) seeds.The experimental design was a 4 x 5 factorial fitted into Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications.The rates for the different powders were 0.0, 0.5,1.0,1.5, 2.0g admixed with 20 g of mung bean seeds placed in plastic containers.The effect of the treatments were assessed on insect mortality at 48 and 96 hours, oviposition 7 days post treatment, adult emergence on 28 days after infestation, and seed viability test at the expiration of the experiment (42 days post treatment).The results showed that plant powders were effective in controlling insect infestation by recording significantly higher mortality, reduction in the number of eggs laid, and suppression of the development and emergence of adult progenies from the treated mung bean seeds compared with the control.Piper guineense provided the best protection for stored mung bean at 2.0 g/20 g compared with the other treatments, followed by Allium sativum.Dennittia tripetala and Zingiber officinale were almost the same in their performance.Plant materials did not affect the viability of the seeds.The results obtained suggest that the plant materials possess insecticidal properties and can be utilized in protecting stored mung bean from C. maculatus infestation since they are environmental friendly, cheaper than synthetic insecticides and safer for humans.Mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is one of the most important short season, summer growing legumes grown widely throughout the tropics and subtropics [1].Mung bean cultivars [2]were a potential source of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, minerals and proteins.The seeds and sprouts are excellent examples of functional foods that lower the risk of various diseases [3].The seeds and sprouts have health promoting effects in addition to their nutritive value [4].Today there is an increasing interest in western countries in the sprouting of seeds as consumers demand minimally processed, additive-free, more natural, nutritional and healthy foods.The seeds may be milled or ground into flour for making noodles, breads and soups.In rural areas, the immature green pods are also used as vegetable.Mung bean stalks, leaves and husks constitute a significant proportion of livestock feed.Af-ter picking of the pods, the whole plant may be ploughed in the soil to improve fertility.Like other legumes, mung bean is attacked by field to stored insect pests.Insect pest can significantly reduce mung bean profitability, reducing both yield and seed quality.In order to ensure food security for the citizenry, surplus grains are properly preserved in storage.Stored grains in addition to serving as a source of domestic food supply throughout the year, serve a as means to generate revenue for the farming families.Grains are however very susceptible to infestation by insect pests belonging to two main orders, Coleoptera (beetle) and Lepidoptera (moth), micro-organisms and to rodent pests in storage.Insects are the most important among storage pests because apart from their direct damage, they create conditions that allow secondary infection by rot organisms mainly fungi [5].Once infection is established insect pests cause gradual and progressive damage leading to losses