Title of the Paper: Efficacy of Essential Oil of Eucalyptus Maculata on the Protein Profile of Rice Weevil, Sitophilus Oryzae( Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
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Abstract
In developing countries like India synthetic pesticides are used to prevent huge post harvest loss of food grains due to infestation by stored grain pest like rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae . Different environmental and health concerns caused due to use of synthetic pesticides arose the need for use of biopesticides. Eucalyptus oil from different species has been shown to have insect repellency, antifungicidal activity, antimicrobial and antibacterial activity. In the present paper the mortality rate and change in protein profile of S. oryzae through use of essential oil of Eucalyptus maculata was investigated. The laboratory cultured S. oryzae at adult stage was exposed to various concentrations of the oil under laboratory condition at 27C. The ability of the plant oil to protect rice grains was assessed in terms of mortality and change in protein profile of rice weevil at different concentrations. The result affirmed the efficacy of essential oil of Eucalyptus maculata against control of rice weevil showing good toxicity. It showed that essential oil of Eucalyptus maculata can be used as biopesticide instead of synthetic pesticides.