Repellent, toxic, and food protectant effects of pithraj,Aphanamixis polystachya extracts against pulse beetle,Callosobruchus chinensis in storage.

Ground leaves, bark, seeds, and four seed extracts of pithraj,Aphanamixis polystachya (family Meliaceae), a locally grown plant in Bangladesh, were evaluated for their repellency, contact toxicity, and food protectant efficacy against adult pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis L.). The seed extracts showed poor repellent effects, but high contact toxicity to adults at 72 hr after application. The ground leaves, bark, and seeds provided good protection for mung beans against pulse beetles, and the seed powder greatly reduced the F1 progeny and seed damage rates.