EFFECT OF PLANT OILS ON ADULT EGG LAYING, EMERGENCE, AND WEIGHT LOSS OF COLLOSOBRUCHUS ANALIS (FAB.) IN GREEN GRAM (VIGNA RADIATA L. ROXB

Abstract

: The experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions in which four plant oils
i.e. Mustard (Brassica compestris) L, Coconut (Cocus nucifera) L, Sesame (Sesamum indicum) L, and
Rocket seed (Eurica sativa)Mill, were tested against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus analis) Fab, in green
gram. The standard quantity of each oil was 0.25 ml mixed with the 250 grams of green gram kept in
plastic jars covered with Muslim cloth. Four pairs, one day old adults were released in each jar. The
result indicated that the Rocket seed oil was the most effective followed by coconut oil, sesame oil and
mustard oil which resulted in low egg laying and reduced adult emergence. The minimum eggs
(4.20±0.57) were observed in rocket seed oil followed by mustard oil (8.31±0.78), sesame oil
(9.46±0.74) and coconut oil (9.96±0.75), where as maximum eggs (12.16±1.18) were recorded in
control treatment. Similarly, the minimum adult emergence (2.27±0.32) was observed in rocket seed
followed by mustard (4.33±0.68) coconut (5.60±0.65) and sesame (6.65±0.66). The minimum weight
loss (8.26%) was also observed in green gram with rocket seed oil followed by mustard oil (20.57%),
sesame oil (25.63%) and coconut oil (36.13%). The maximum weight loss (56.14%) was recorded in
control treatment.