Isolation, identification and evaluation of the effective phyto-compounds for the management of groundnut beetles infesting stored Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

The effectiveness of various botanicals was tested against the Major Pest, groundnut beetle Caryedon serratus, Oliver (Bruchidae: Coleoptera) under artificial infestation, in Laboratory conditions for one year.

Essential Oils isolated by Clevengers Apparatus , @1%v/w  of Pongamia glabra (Karanja Oil), Azadirachta indica (Neem Oil), Brassica campestris (Mustard Oil) , Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella oil) , Dalbergia sisso (Sisso Oil),  Oryza sativa (Rice bran oil), Helianthus annus (Sunflower Oil) , Ricinus communis (Castor Oil), Aegle marmelos (Bael Oil), Sesamum indicum (Til Oil),  etc and @1%w/w leaf powders of Calotropis gigantean, Azadirachta indica,  Pongamia pinnata,  Vitex negundo, Mangifera indica, Datura stramonium, Lantana camara, and Artocarpus heterophyllus were tested for their bioefficacy against the Major Pest, groundnut beetle Caryedon serratus, Oliver (Bruchidae: Coleoptera) under artificial infestation, in Laboratory conditions for one year. Out of all these plant products only the Powders and the isolated active components of Calotropis gigantean and Citronella oil (Cymbopogon nardus), gave 100 % pod/Kernel protection for one year.

Spectroscopic GC MS analysis of Citronella oil (Cymbopogon nardus), are identified as D-Limonene, Neral,    Citral and 2,6-octadien-1-ol,3,7-dimethyl acetate (Z) .  It may be due to the strong aromatic nature of these phytoproduct. Hence these phytoproduct may be used as fumigants or insect repellants against Caryedon serratus and can be included in the package of practices to save stored groundnut in storage.