VERMA, S.C.KAUR, KAMALDEEP2017-09-232017-09-232017http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810031753ABSTRACT The present study on “Evaluation of plant powders against pulse beetle, (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) infesting pea seeds” was carried out during 2016-2017 in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Horticulture, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-173 230, Solan (H.P). The plant powders of neem, camphor, sweet flag, lemongrass, eucalyptus, wild marigold and drek each at 1g, 3g and 5g per 100g seed (w/w basis) were evaluated against C. chinensis L. infesting pea seeds. Among the seven plant powders sweet flag possessed reasonably high and immediate toxicity irrespective of its doses. It resulted 64.45 per cent overall mortality within a day of treatment, while in 3 days mortality increased to 84.44 per cent. After day -7 mortality observed in seeds treated with sweet flag powder was 98.89 per cent followed by neem (67.78%), eucalyptus (63.33%), camphor (56.67%), lemongrass (52.22%), drek (46.56%) and wild marigold (43.33%) in descending order. After 10 days of exposure, sweet flag powder caused 100 per cent mortality at 1, 3 and 5 g doses and neem and eucalyptus at 5 g/100 g seed. On day 15, mortality in control had substantially increased to 63.33 per cent. Egg laying was minimum with sweet flag powder treated pea seeds (3.11 eggs/ 5 females) on 7th-day of observation. In untreated pea seeds, increase in egg laying was negligible in 20- days of observation (97.00 on7th day to 109.33 on 20th day). Progeny development from the eggs laid on pea seed treated with sweet flag powder (1 beetle). Maximum protection to treated pea seeds in terms of reduction in seed damage by C. chinensis was provided by sweet flag powder (0.33%) and neem powder (8.91%). Next effective treatments were eucalyptus (9.61%), camphor (10.30%), lemongrass (10.555%), drek (11.09%) and wild marigold (11.47%). Pea seed treated with sweet flag powder resulted 93.67 per cent germination followed by neem (84.89%), eucalyptus (76.89%), camphor (73.11%), lemongrass (70.44%), drek (67.78%) and wild marigold (57.78%). Sweet flag powder resulted 2042.68 seed vigour index-I followed by neem (1330.67), eucalyptus (1318.39), camphor (1309.86), lemongrass (1288.18), drek (1005.65) and wild marigold (753.70). Maximum seed vigour index-II was recorded in sweet flag powder (3481.67) treated pea seed followed by neem (3092.89), eucalyptus (2519.11), camphor (2509.89), lemongrass (2508.33), drek (2007.00) and wild marigold (1681.89). In case of plant powders as grain protectant sweet flag powder at 5g/100g seed was effective in protecting pea seeds up to 6 months. No egg laying was recorded in pea seeds treated with sweet flag powder followed by neem (151.67 eggs), eucalyptus (155.50 eggs), camphor (181.00 eggs), lemongrass (195.83 eggs), drek (210.00 eggs) and wild marigold (241.67 eggs). Pea seeds treated with sweet flag powder at 5g/100g seed resulted no adult emergence, no seed damage, no weight loss and highest germination (95.50%), seed vigour index-I (2043.38) and seed vigour index –II (3145.00). Hence mixing of pea seeds with sweet flag powder at 3g dose provided protection up to 2- months of treatment whereas pea seeds treated with 5g/100g seed would be effective in protecting pea seeds against damage caused by pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. up to month-6 of treatment.ennullThesis