Evaluation of Parthenium hysterophorus L. powder against Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) on chickpea under laboratory conditions.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the insecticidal properties of different part of Parthenium hysterophorus extract powder against Callosobruchus chinensis in the laboratory under ambient condition. Parthenium part’s powders applied to chickpea seeds were toxic to C. chinensis and caused significant (P<0.05) mortality 24 h after treatment application except stem powder at 0.5 and 1.0 g. The highest dose (2/50 g seed) of inflorescence, leaf and stem powder caused 76.67, 73.33 and 56.67% mortality respectively. Similarly, all the powders significantly (P<0.05) induced the lower number of F1 progeny emergence compared with the untreated chickpea seeds. Inhibition of the F1 progeny emergence by all the powders was significantly lower than pirimiphos-methyl resulted in 100% inhibition of individuals of insects. The highest percent inhibition in adult emergence was observed in case of leaf powder treated chickpea seeds (83.33) whereas the lowest in case of stem powder (52.78). The powder has also played a vital role in preventing seed weight loss. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the potential use of P. hysterophorus for protection of legumes during storage.