Evaluation of efficacy of various plant powders against Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) on stored wheat

Abstract

The investigation was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different plant powders against Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechidae) on stored wheat in the laboratory of the Department of Entomology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, during 2021-22 at 30.25 ± 0.25ºC temperature and 75.00 ± 5.06% relative humidity. All the powders of Azadirachta indica A. Juss leaves, Pongamia pinnata L. leaves, Ocimum basilicum L. leaves, Piper nigrum L. seeds, A. indica kernel, Allium sativum L. cloves, Allium cepa L. bulbs and Curcuma longa L. rhizome, were superior to the untreated check but the efficacy level varied. The A. indica kernel powder @5g/kg (91.67%) was significantly superior over rest of the treatments with highest per cent mortality which was at par with A. indica kernel powder @2.5g/kg (88.30%). Whereas, significantly lowest mortality recorded in treatment O. basilicum powder @5g/kg (58.33%) and O. basilicum powder @10g/kg (40.00%).