Investigation of Coccinia Grandis Leaf Extract and Its Efficacy Against Stored Grain Pests

Significant postharvest losses from stored grain pests emphasize the need for sustainable control methods, with Telakucha (Coccinia grandis) leaf extract showing promise as a natural, eco-friendly pesticide due to its allelopathic effects. The aims of this study are to assess the mortality response of rice weevils (Sitophilus oryzae), Red Flour Beetles (Tribolium castaneum), and pulse beetles (Callosobruchus chinensis) influenced by the 100, 70, and 50% methalonic leaf extract of Telakucha (Coccina grandis). Telakucha leaf extracts mixed with three concentrations of grain weight, viz., dose-1 (10% of grain weight, 2 ml), dose-2 (7.5% of grain weight, 1.5 ml), and dose-3 (5% of grain weight, 1 ml). The result showed that the mortality percentage is higher in a 100% extract treatment than 70% and lower in a 50% extract. Rice weevil mortality at the dose-3 of 100% extract was lower than the other two pests. At 70% extract, the mortality rate of pulse beetles in dose-1 and dose-2 was lower than the other two insects, and the mortality rate of red flower beetles in dose-3 was found to be lower than the rest. In 50% extract, the mortality rate of rice weevil at doses 1, 2, and 3 was higher than that of red flower beetles and pulse beetles. This treatment had the best results on rice weevils and the least on red flower beetles. Here three dosages demonstrated no activity on the red flower beetle and pulse beetle. In the case of 10% dose exhibited the highest allelopathic effect of each pest, whereas 5% dose demonstrated the lowest allelopathic effect. The effectiveness of the leaf extract was found to increase proportionally with the increase in dosages. The Telakucha leaf extract result also showed that it was significantly higher than that of the control. Therefore, Telakucha leaf extract might be used for the effective and eco-friendly management of these three pests.