Studies on efficacy of certain vegetable oils against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis Linn. on chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.)

The present research was aimed to study the efficacy of certain vegetable oils against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis linn. on chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.) were conducted under laboratory conditions of 28 ± 1 0C temperature and 70 ± 5 per cent relative humidity in a B.O.D. incubator at Department of Agricultural Zoology & Entomology, College of Agriculture, Bikaner. Among the grain protectants four vegetable oils viz., neem, groundnut, coconut and sesamum @ 4, 8 and 12 ml/kg grains were evaluated. Neem oil at 12 ml/kg grains was found to be most effective in inhibiting the oviposition (67.60%), reduction in eggs hatching (69.64%) and reduction in adult emergence (94.27%). Groundnut oil also gave good results giving in same parameters with 60.10, 53.00 and 78.57 per cent, respectively. Coconut and sesamum oils were least effective. The tested vegetable oils did not affect the germination of treated chickpea grains.