INSECTICIDAL AND REPELLENT ACTIVITIES OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF THREE MEDICINAL PLANTS TOWARDS INSECT PESTS OF STORED WHEAT

Sh. Saleem, M.-Ul-Hasan, S. Akhtar, M. Sagheer, Ch. M. Sh. Hanif, M. Ijaz

Abstract: The present study was carried out to assess the efficacy of essential oils of some indigenous plants Melia azadarach (Bakain), Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Datura stramonium (Datura) for their potential repellent and mortality efficiencies against three most important insect pests of stored grain (Tribolium castaneum, Rhyzopertha dominica and Trogoderma granarium). Experiment was performed at Grain Research, Training and Storage Management Cell of the Department of Agri. Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Three concentrations viz., 5%, 10% and 15% of essential oils with three replications were applied. The results advocated Azadirachta indica, the most effective repellant against Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica with maximum of 77.66% and 81.48% repellency respectively. While Datura stramonium depicted highest repellency (76.43%) against Trogoderma granarium. For mortality assay, data was collected after 24, 48h and 72hr of treatment with plant oils. The highest mortality of Tribolium castaneum and Trogoderma granarium was observed against Datura stramonium which was 28.82 and 24.30% respectively. While in case of Rhyzopertha dominica observed maximum mortality was 25.45% against Azadirachta indica. Results of the study strongly recommend the use of essential oils as stored grain protectant.

Keywords: essential oils; indigenous plants; wheat

Date published: 2017-09-01