Study the evaluate the efficacy of botanicals and inert dusts for pulse beetle management

Abstract

Custard apple leaf powder (10g/kg) showed the maximum (18.33%) mortality of pulse beetle after 7 days. The minimum mortality (5.00%) was observed in grains treated with cow dung ash. All the plant powders and inert dusts at their application rates of 5g/kg and 10g/kg reduced the number of eggs laid by pulse beetle when compared with the control, which had the maximum (60.33, 64.33 and 66.33) eggs after 3, 7 and 10 days. The lowest (19.67, 21.33 and 23.00) number of eggs was recorded on grain treated with custard apple leaf powder (10 g/kg). The cow dung dust was least effective at the dose level of 10 g/kg. The plant powders and inert dusts even at their lowest application rate reduced the emergence of adults when compared with control, where the maximum (44.00, 51.33 and 58.67%) adults emerged after 30, 60 and 90 days of intervals. The minimum (20.67, 23.33 and 27.33 %) adults emerged in seeds treated with custard apple leaf powder (10g/kg). The minimum seed damage of 26.67 per cent was recorded in custard apple leaf powder treated seeds, while maximum seed damage (63.33 %) was recorded in the control. The minimum weight loss of 7.17 per cent was recorded in custard apple leaf powder treated seeds, while maximum weight loss (23.40%) was recorded in the control. The maximum germination (52.67 %) was recorded in custard apple leaf powder treated seeds of green gram, while and minimum germination (31.33%) was recorded in control.