Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research
Open Access

Abstract

Mortality Effects of Some Medicinal Plants on the Pulse Beetle Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Bindhu VR, Ganga S and Susha Dayanandan

Effect of ethanol extract of the leaf of plants Hydrocotyl asiatica, Boerhavia diffusa, Bacopa monieri and Trichosanthes cucumarina was tested against the pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis. The efficacy of the extract on the insects was dose-dependent. Different doses were checked and the results showed that high doses of the extracts were significantly more toxic to Callosobruchus chinensis compared to lower doses. LD50 value was assessed using probit analysis. The effect of the plant Hydrocotyl asiatica was found to be most significant causing highest mortality compared to other plants. DNA fragmentation studies also showed similar results and points out the significance of the medicinal plants in controlling the pest.