Seed Treatment with Entomopathogens in Paddy Storage
Anuradha *
SRTC, PJTAU, Hyderabad, India.
Amit Bera
SRTC, PJTAU, Hyderabad, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Laboratory study was conducted in a completely randomised design with ten treatments at Seed Research and Technology centre, PJTAU,Hyderabad to investigate the effect of entomopathogens on insect population, seed quality and storability of paddy seeds by treating with Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, diatomaceous earth and a chemical check Deltamethrin. The seeds were then stored in HDPE bags for twelve months from July 2024 to June 2025. A successful seed storage management strategy was Metarhizium anisopliae (CFU: 1.0×108) @ 20 g/kg seed + Diatomaceous earth @ 5g/kg seeds recording 64.67% germination, 8.33% moisture, 2.4% seed damage after one year and 100% mortality of Rhizopertha dominica.
Keywords: Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, diatomaceous earth, deltamethrin, Rhizopertha dominica