Renu Devi

Seed quality as influenced by seed invigouration treatments in pigeonpea [Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Pre- sowing treatments viz, 50ppm GA3, 2% CaCl2, 0.5% KNO3, Hydration (2h) and drying at room temperature >25 0C and surface drying, and hydration- dehydration (2h) + Thiram dressing @ 0.25% were applied to two seed lots (marginal and good) of two cultivars of pigeonpea i.e. Paras and Manak and untreated seed lot was taken as control. The results revealed that various pre sowing invigouration treatments enhanced the standard germination of both the seed lots. However, the improvement in marginal seed lot (L2) was more than good seed lot (L1). Among the treatments, hydration and dehydration + thiram @ 0.25 percent were found most effective (6.0%) for enhancing in germination. Similarly, irrespective of the priming treatments among the cultivars Paras performed better under field conditions than Manak. irrespective of the cultivars, and seed lots pre-sowing seed treatments namely GA3 (50ppm), cold hydration and cold hydration + 0.25% thiram showed improvement in germination and seed quality attributes, whereas remaining treatments showed negative effect. It was revealed also that variety Manak showed good enzyme activity (DHA, catalase, peroxide and superoxide dismutase) than the Paras. And among seed lots (Table 4) lot L1 showed good enzyme activities than lot L21

Biology of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and its response to botanicals in stored pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (L.) grains

Biology of pulse beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) was studied on pigeonpea grains during 2014-15 in laboratory conditions. The adult beetle was oval in shape and reddish-brown in colour, with dark stripes on each side of dorsal abdomen with average fecundity of 74.8±1.8 eggs per female. The average incubation period was 4.2±0.2 days with hatching 98.2±0.3 percent. Average larval-pupal period, oviposition, post-oviposition period, total life period and adult life span were 21.3±0.3, 8.2±0.5, 2.8±0.5, 33.3 ±2.4 and 12.0±2.1 days, respectively. The effect of nine botanicals viz., neem oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil, turmeric powder and their mixture and surface protectants viz., neem seed kernel powder, saw dust, sand, dung cake ash and wheat husk were used on pigeonpea seed against Callosobruchus maculatus. The highest mortality (84-100%) was observed by neem oil @ 10ml/kg and lowest (3.33%) by turmeric powder @ 3.5g/kg seeds, after 135 days of storage. Neem oil @ 10ml/kg was completely inhibited the oviposition, adult emergence and seed damage. All the oils and inert materials prevented egg laying, reduced population build up of beetles and minimized the seed damage as compare to control.