MAN MOHAN SUNDRIA+, AKHIL KUMAR, ASHOK KUMAR AND R. SWAMINATHAN

A few plant powders and insecticidal dusts were tested for their efficacy in protecting stored groundnuts against Caryedon serratus Olivier. Deltamethrin (10g/kg pod) recorded no weight loss and zero pod damage to stored groundnut after nine months. Deltamethrin (5g/kg pod) was also effective to control the bruchid showing very low weight loss (0.14%) and pod damage (1.54%). Among plant powders, black pepper powder at an application rate of 15 g/kg pod was effective to check weight loss (0.24%) and pod damage (3.54%) in stored groundnut. Azadirachta indica A. Juss seed kernel powder (20 g/kg pod) was also effective against the bruchid evincing a weight loss of 3.10 per cent and pod damage of 40.59 per cent. Contrarily, Pongamia glabra seed powder (10, 15, and 20 g/kg) was not effective even after 24 hourr of treatment application; rather, the weight loss and damage were higher than that recorded in control.