Effect of Desiccant Beads on Groundnut Bruchid, Caryedon serratus (Olivier) Infestation in Stored Groundnut

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of desiccant beads on the stored groundnut against groundnut bruchid, Caryedon serratus Olivier. The experiment was carried out in the storage laboratory of Department of Entomology, OUAT, Bhubaneswar during 2019-20 in Completely Randomised Design. Groundnut pods(100 grams) in each treatment were mixed with 2 types of beads viz., zeolite beads and sodium aluminium silicate in four different ratios (1:1, 1:0.9, 1:0.8, 1:0.7) along with an untreated control and the observations on the fecundity, adult emergence, weight loss(%), moisture content, germination(%) were recorded during 6 months of storage at an interval of 60 days. Among the different treatments, the pods mixed with zeolite beads in 1:1 ratio was found to be the most superior treatment after 2, 4 and 6 months with the lowest fecundity (14.67, 25.67 and 34.33 eggs, respectively) and adult emergence (10.00, 17.33 and 25.00 adults, respectively). However, all the treatment dosages were found significantly superior over control which recorded maximum weight loss due to bruchid infestation. It was also noted that there was reduction in moisture content of the groundnut kernels with the increase of storage period with desiccant beads as these beads absorbed the moisture from the groundnut and created unsuitable environment for insect development and infestation. These beads did not show any adverse effects on the germination of groundnut.