Effect of different packaging materials on the efficacy of sweet flag rhizome powder (Acorus calamus L.) treated pigeonpea against Callasobruchus analis.

An experiment was conducted to know the effect of different packaging materials and sweet flag rhizome on seed quality of pigeonpea. The graded seeds were packed in six containers viz., polythene cover, mud container, cloth bag, gunny bag, glass container and steel container and stored under storage condition with initial seed moisture content less than eight percent and seeds were treated with two per cent of sweet flag rhizome powder before storage. The different observations viz number of live adults, number of eggs laid, seed damage (%) by Callasobruchus analis and germination (%) were recorded. The results revealed that the sweet flag rhizome treated seeds packed in steel container, recorded lowest seed damage percentage (25.11%), number of eggs (2.67), number of live adults (1.33) and highest seed germination (69.67%) after nine months of treatment. Hence seeds treated with sweet flag rhizome stored in steel containers reduces the insect infestation and steel containers can be effectively used for maintaining seed quality of pigeonpea during storage.