Some Botanicals as Seed Protectants against Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. on Pea

Ethanolic extracts of leaves of worm's wood (Artemisia roxburghii L. and A. annua L.), mint(Mentha longifolia L. and M. spicata L.) and marigold (Tagetus erecta L.), and seed kernels of dharek (Melia azedarach L.) on evaluation for their oviposition deterrent activity, direct toxicity, progeny development and effect on weight loss, seed damage and seed germination showed that all the extracts were toxic and influenced ovipositional deterrency of the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) infesting pea (Pisum sativum L.) as compared to the untreated check. The maximum oviposition deterrent activity (91.8%) and mortality (80.92%) of the beetle was observed in M. azedarach seed kernel extract at 6 per cent concentration. It proved to be the most effective among the six plant extracts tested against the pulse beetle in terms of pea seed damage (2.38%), weight loss (1%) and progeny development (nil) up to six months of storage. All the extracts showed increased seed germination as compared to control, even after six months of treatment.