Entomotoxic Effects of Silica Nanoparticles Along with Other Seed Protectants against Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (Linnaeus) in Stored Chickpea, Cicer arietinum Linn.

The study was carried out at ANDUA&T’s Department of Entomology during 2022–2023. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD), had eight treatments, and was replicated three times. The most effective seed protectants were found to be 10 g Kg-1 of silica nanoparticles, 2 ppm Kg-1 of emamectin benzoate, 5 g Kg-1 of silica nanoparticles, and 3 ppm Kg-1 of spinetoram. These treatments also had the lowest seed damage and weight loss, the highest germination percentage and seed vigor index, and the highest protein and carbohydrate content of chickpea seeds for up to 90 days of storage while maintaining the IMSCS level. Longer storage times resulted in more seed damage, seed weight loss, and qualitative loss (germination, vigor, carbohydrate, and protein) of chickpea seeds. Thus, the results all of the treatments showed that spinetoram 3 ppm Kg-1 seed, Emamectin benzoate 2 ppm Kg-1 seed, Silica nanoparticles 5g Kg-1 seed, and Silica nanoparticles 10 g Kg-1 seed might be utilized to protect chickpea seeds from Callosobruchus chinensis for a long time.