%0 Journal Article
%A Chauhan, Y S
%A Ghaffar, M A
%D 2002
%F icrisat:1552
%I Elsevier
%J Journal of Stored Products Research
%N 1
%P 87-91
%T Solar heating of seeds - a low cost method to control bruchid (Callosobruchus spp.) attack during storage of pigeonpea
%U http://oar.icrisat.org/1552/
%V 38
%X Bruchids (Callosobruchus spp.) are major storage pests of legume crops grown in the tropics and sub-tropics including pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) and cause considerable economic losses. Solar heating of seeds in transparent polyethylene bags was found to effectively control bruchid damage in seeds of a medium-duration pigeonpea cultivar (ICPL 87119) during prolonged storage. During a week of observation, solar heating raised the temperature in seed bags to 658C each day. Solar heat-treated seeds remained free from bruchid damage even after 41 weeks of storage. No reduction in seed germination was observed in the solar-heated seeds. The control treatment had up to 91% of bruchid damaged seeds and their germination was reduced to 42%. Farmers in semi-arid tropical and humid tropical regions may consider using solar heating as a safe and relatively inexpensive method for disinfesting seeds of pigeonpea.