Evaluation of Some Botanicals against Callosobruchus chinensis L. Infesting Stored Chickpea Seeds and Bio-Chemical Analysis of Used Botanicals

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the bio-efficacy of some botanicals against Callosobruchus chinensis L. in stored chickpea (Variety: Anuradha) in the year 2018–20. Different botanicals like Neem (Azadirachta indica), Melia (Melia azedarach), Datura (Datura stramonium) and Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) were used. Among all the botanicals Neem leaf powder @ 6% performed better with minimum egg laying (64 eggs 5 females-1) compared to the other botanicals except the standard check with Deltamethrin @ 0.04%. Thereafter, 6% Melia leaf powder and 8% Datura leaf powder recorded 87.50 eggs 5 females-1 and 91.25 eggs 5 females-1, respectively. With regard to adult mortality, the best result was also obtained from the treatment Neem leaf powder @6% with 96.67% mortality in 5th day. Following the same trend, 6% Melia leaf powder and 8% Datura leaf powder exhibited 90% and 83.33% adult mortality, respectively, in 5th day. The estimation of total phenols and total antioxidants (IC-50) contents in Neem leaf powder (345.69 mg g-1 and 207.77 μg ml-1), Melia leaf powder (273.40 mg g-1 and 383.68 μg ml-1) and Datura Leaf Powder (213.62 mg g-1 and 405.77 μg ml-1) also confirms the findings of the bio-efficacy trial of the botanicals. Tulsi leaf powder @5% was least efficacious both in terms of egg laying by the females as well as adult mortality. These botanicals are locally available, economic, bio-degradable and safe to the environment. Therefore, they may be fitted in the Integrated Pest Management strategies against stored grain pests as seed protectants.

Biology and Morphometrics of Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. on Chickpea

“…Pulse beetle, Callosobruchus spp. is an important primary pest and major constraint Mounika et al (2021), Duan et al (2014). India reports an 8.5% loss due to the beetle, causing 10-95% seed weight loss and 45.5%-66.3% protein loss during storage Paikaray et al (2022).…”

Efficacy of Some Botanical Powders as Grain Protectants Against Pulse Beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) on Ricebean (Vigna umbellata Thunb.)

“…Therefore, there has been an increased need to explore suitable alternative methods of pest management. The use of plant products is one such alternative as they are cheap, easy to use, readily available, biodegradable, specific mode of action, safe for the environment and human beings (Gahukar, 2012, Kedia et al, 2015, Mounika et al, 2021. Various plant products have been found to have insecticidal, oviposition deterrent and ovicidal properties against bruchids and other insect pests (Tripathi et al, 2002, Singh, 2003, Singh et al, 2006, Ahad et al, 2012, Suthar and Bharpoda, 2016, Swamy and Wesley, 2017.…”