EVALUATION OF BOTANICAL GRAIN PROTECTANTS AGAINST PULSE BEETLE (CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS FABRICIUS)

The investigations were conducted to check the efficacy of different grain protectants against pulse beetle (C.maculatus) on stored pigeonpea.The results revealed that the black pepper (25 g/kg of seed) powder provided complete protection of pigeonpea seeds from C. maculatus.It was the most effective treatment which recorded less egg laying, adult emergence, weight loss, seed damage and high feeding index next best treatment was clove powder and neem leaf powder.Even after two months of treatments, none of the botanical powders had a negative impact on the germination of pigeonpea seeds.