<div>Background: Pulses are an integral component of food in India which acts as major source of protein required for growth and maintenance of body. But during their storage they suffer heavy losses resulting in depletion of their quality and edibility. The present studies focused on disinfestation of green gram grains using microwaves as an alternative approach to chemical methods for controlling insects in grains and pulses. 
 
Methods: In this laboratory studies during 2017-18, the grains of green gram were infested with different life stages of the cowpea weevil and exposed to 200, 400, 600 and 800 W microwave power levels, each at an exposure period of 10, 20, 30 and 40 s. 
 
Result: Eggs were the most susceptible, while pupal and adults were the least susceptible life stages to microwave treatments. Complete mortality of eggs was achieved with microwave treatments (400, 600 and 800 W), each at an exposure period of 30 and 40 s. Complete inhibition of larval stage was attained with 400 and 600 W (30 and 40 s) and 800 W (20, 30 and 40 s exposure) while for pupal stage it was observed at the higher wattages of 600 (40 s exposure) and 800 (30 and 40 s exposure). Microwave wattage of 600 W for 40 sand 800 W for 30 and 40 s exposure caused 100% mortality of 2d old adults of cowpea bruchid.</div>

Use of Microwave Heating Technology for Disinfestation of Stored Green Gram (Vigna radiata) against Cowpea Bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius)

<div style="text-align: justify;">Quarantine examination of 13,29,901 imported seed samples of various crops during 1999- 2014 revealed presence of exotic bruchids commonly called seed or pulse beetles in 2,819 samples which were detected by X-ray radiography. Thirteen exotic bruchid species viz., Acanthoscelides desmanthi in Desmanths spp. from Colombia, A. obtectus in Phaseolus vulgaris from Argentina, Colombia Mexico, Peru; Bruchidius atrolineatus in Vigna unguiculata from Nigeria; Bruchus affinis in Vicia faba from Afghanistan; &nbsp;B. dentipes in Vicia spp. from Afghanistan, ICARDA (Syria) and Syria; B. ervi in Lens spp. from Afghanistan, Chile, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, ICARDA (Syria), Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Russian Federation, Syria and Turkey; B. nubilis &nbsp;in V. faba from Ukraine; B. rufimanus in V. faba from Afghanistan, Canada, Spain and Syria; B. signaticornis in L. culinaris from ICARDA (Syria); B. tristis in Lathyrus odoratus from ICARDA (Syria); B. tristiculus in V. narborensis from Portugal; Callosobruchus rhodesianus in Vigna unguiculata from Nigeria and C. subinnotatus in V. subterranea from Ghana were intercepted. Many of the pulse beetles were intercepted repeatedly from the same/ different source(s) year after year. All the infested samples were salvaged using suitable disinfestation treatments. None of the intercepted beetles are yet reported from India, and are therefore, of high quarantine significance.</div>

Exotic pulse beetles intercepted in imported legume germplasm

<div>Background: A number of storage pests viz., Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.) and Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium (Evert.) damage stored wheat. However, S. oryzae is considered a primary pest of stored wheat and has been reported to prefer soft textured wheat cultivars. 
 
Methods: The grains of three bread (soft textured) viz., HD2967, PDW314, PBW658 and three durum wheat (hard textured) cultivars viz., WHD943, PBW621, PDW291 were screened for feeding response by rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. in the laboratory. Each cultivar seed was properly cleaned and disinfested before its use. A 100g seed sample of each cultivar was taken into the plastic jars. Of the pure culture, ten 1-2 week young one insects (1:1 sex ratio) were released into the jars each containing different cultivar grains. The jars were covered with white muslin as three separate storage sets, i.e., 30, 60 and 90 days after storage to record data observations.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Durum wheat cultivars being low in protein contents were comparatively less preferred for pest feeding and cultivar PDW291 was found highly resistant based on low insect emergence, grain damage and weight loss. The bread wheat cultivars due to high protein contents were highly preferred by the pest and cultivar HD2967 showed maximum preference. The biochemical properties like ash contents and crude fibres showed positive while crude fats and protein a negative correlation with the pest infestation.&nbsp;</div>

Use of Microwave Heating Technology for Disinfestation of Stored Green Gram (Vigna radiata) against Cowpea Bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius)

Exotic pulse beetles intercepted in imported legume germplasm

Deterioration of Grain Quality of Wheat by Rice Weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) during Storage