ADHATODA VASICA LEAF OIL-A POTENTIAL FUMIGANT PRESERVATIVE FOR GROUNDNUT DURING STORAGE

Samples of groundnut seeds were collected from stores in Eastern Uttar Pradesh,India and examined for their associated mycoflora and insects.Fifteen species of fungi and one insect-Trogoderma granarium,were isolated from the samples.Volatile constituents extracted in the form of essential oils from 32 plant species were evaluated against the dominant fungi,Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger as well as Trogoderma granarium.The oil of Adhatoda vasica exhibited the greatest toxicity. The oil was found to be fungicidal and thermostable at its minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of 400ppm.The oil was characterized by the determination of its various physico-chemical properties.The oil protected the groundnut seeds completely for 6 months at 0.25 and 0.38 mL in containers of 250 mL capacity holding 200g seeds.It did not exhibit any adverse effect on seed germination,seedling growth and general health and morphology of plants.Thus,the oil of Adhatoda vasica showed potential as preservative for groundnut seeds against spoilage by fungi and insects during storage.