Insecticidal and Microbial Effect of Essential Oil on Wheat and Chickpea During Storage

Abstract

In recent years, limited research works has been reported on the use of integrated pest management to control the insect and pests in stored grain. Management of stored grain insects and pests using essential oils either in combination or alone will be of great importance as it is economical and eco-friendly. Tests were conducted to evaluate the toxicological impact of essential oils on stored product beetles in wheat and chickpea storage, as well as their influence on germination characteristics. The impact of essential oils was assessed for their fumigant toxicity, mortality, repellent properties, and effects on germination against storage pests such as Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum, and Collasobruchus chinensis in wheat and chickpea. During the fumigant toxicity test the selected essential oils either alone at 0.4 percent or in combination at 0.2 percent each were highly effective against Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum, Collasobruchus chinensis. All the essential oils at 0.4% concentration demonstrated complete mortality within twenty-four hours of treatment against Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum, and Collasobruchus chinensis, compared to untreated samples. The evaluated essential oils exhibit the greatest repellent activity against Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum, Collasobruchus chinensis. Whether applied individually at a concentration of 0.4% or in combinations at 0.2%, they show no impact on the percentage of germination, vigour index, and viability significance after eight and ten months of storing wheat, respectively.