Abstract

                                When 10 plant oils were tested at 0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 per cent against the pulse beetle for their bio-activity, it was observed that neem oil at all the three doses reduced egg hatching, adult emergence and seed weight loss. All oils were effective at 0.1 per cent concentration. At 0.5 and 1.0 per cent, the development of the beetle was greatly affected as evident from no adult emergence and complete protection of seed was achieved. Further, the oil treatments affect the germination of the greengram seeds.

Key words : Callosobruchus maculatus, Greengram, Vegetable oils.