Effect of Various Plant Materials on the Breeding of Lesser Grain Borer {Rhyzopertha dominica) in Milled Rice in Laboratory

Five different plant materials namely - sweet flag {Acorus calamus), kut root (Saussurea lappa), turmeric (Curcuma tonga),
curry leaf (Murraya sp.) and kinnow peel (Citrus nobilis x Citrus deliciosa) have been evaluated as protectants for milled rice against
the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica) (Fab. Bostrichidae: Coleoptera) at 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% levels. Turmeric powder and
mustard oil alone or in different combinations were also evaluated. The rhizome of sweet flag (grits or powder) was toxic to the
adult insects at all concentrations. Adult mortality was less than 10% in the remainin| plant materials. The grits or powder of sweet
flag suppressed the progeny of the test insect completely even at the lowest concentration tried while turmeric powder or grit gave
63.2% suppression of progeny at 0.5% level. Kut root, kinnow peel and curry leaf did not affect the progeny of the test insect
Mustard oil alone at 4 and 6 ml/kg doses gave 58.3 and 100% kill of the adults, respectively. There was complete mortality of
adult insects on milled rice treated with 6 ml oil + 1 - 4 g of turmeric powder. The mustard oil alone or in various combinations
with turmeric powder suppressed the progeny by more than 92%.