SUSCEPTIBILITY OF DIFFERENT STORED PULSES INFESTED BY PULSE BEETLE, CALLOSOBRUCHUS CHINENSIS (LIN.)

Abstract

The susceptibility of different stored pulses infested by Callosobruchus
chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) was observed in three varieties of stored
pulses i.e. gram (Cicer arietnum L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and mung (Vigna
radiata L.) during April, 2017 to May, 2018. The longest incubation-, larval- and
pupal period of pulse beetle were in gram 5.4 ± 0.29, 12.6 ± 0.25, 5.5 ± 0.32 days,
respectively and the shortest were in mung 4.6 ± 0.25, 11.3 ± 0.28, 4.2 ± 0.19 days,
respectively. The shortest developmental period of pulse beetle was 20.1 ± 0.46
days in mung. The incubation-, larval-, pupal- and total developmental period of
pulse beetle varied significantly between the pulse beetle grown in gram and
mung (p < 0.05). The highest longevity and fecundity were in gram, 8.2 ± 0.33
days and 70.2 ± 7.53, respectively. The fecundity did not vary significantly in
different stored pulses (p > 0.05). The longevity and number of adults emerged
varied significantly (p < 0.05) between the gram and pea. The number of male
emerged did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) between the different stored pulses
and the number of female emerged varied significantly (p < 0.05) between gram
and pea, pea and mung. The experiment revealed that pulse beetle preferred
smooth coated and large size seeds to oviposit. Pea was found to be most
resistant to attack by C. chinensis L. whereas mung was more susceptible than
gram and pea.