Sangeeta Gupta and S. D. Apte
Efficacy of eight botanical oils viz; Castor (Ricinus communis L.), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.), Karanj (Pongamia glabra V.), linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), mustard, (Brassica juncea L.), neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.) at two doses 1 ml and 0.5 ml per 100 g seeds (v/w) against Callosobruchus maculatus (f.) and their effect on seed viability and cooking quality of green gram Vigna radiata L. (Wilczek) seeds were studied. The results indicated that the effectiveness towards grain damage by C. maculatus, number of eggs per seed, holes per seed, loss in grain weight and total development period was in the order of neem oil > karanj oil > linseed oil > groundnut oil > mustard oil > sesamum oil > coconut oil > castor oil. All the oils were found to be more effective at higher does in comparison to 0.5 ml oil. The oil smearing did not influence the seed viability however it increased the percent of uncooked grains and also required more time for cooking.
