Biopesticidal effect of natural saponin containing plant extract of acacia concinna on pulse beetle, callosobruchus chinensis (linn.) (coleoptera : bruchidae)

The saponin containing pod extracts of Acacia concinna were tested for their effect on egg laying, adult emergence from grains and mortality of the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis. The Callosobruchus chinensis L. is the most widespread and a dreadful pests infesting gram, cowpea, beans, lentil and other pulses. The female lay eggs on the seed surface and after hatching larva bores the seed and consumes the seed cotyledons. Among different methanol and ethanol extracts of plant materials, eggs laid on seeds, adult emergence from seeds were reduced and mortality of adults exposed to treated seeds were found after 96 hrs. and the higher concentration of plant material were highly effective against Callosobruchus chinensis. The number of eggs laid and the adults emerged from seeds of Phaseolus aconitifolius treated with ethanolic extract of saponin containing pod extracts of Acacia concinna were 38 and 21 in 3 mg. of concentration while seeds treated with methanol extract were 49 and 29 in 3 mg. respectively. In the present study ethanol extract of plant material were effective as bio insecticidal property to control pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis.