BIOCHEMICAL SYNERGISM OF Z. OFFICINALE, D. STRAMONIUM EXTRACTS AND DELTAMETHRIN FOR CONTROLLING TRIBOLIUM CASTANEUM AND RHYZOPERTHA DOMINICA

Research conducted at the Grain Research, Training, and Management Cell of the Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture in Faisalabad aimed to address insect pests that infest stored grain products. Rhyzopertha dominica and T. castaneum, which feed on grains that have been kept, were the main pests to be concerned about. The study made use of acetone-prepared extracts from the plants Datura stramonium and Zingiber officinale. A chemical insecticide called deltamethrin was also used. Various concentrations of the plant extracts (0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, and 0.05%) were created along with a controlled concentration of Deltamethrin. The concentrations were applied using a syringe, and both the individual and combined treatments were evaluated for their lethal effects on T. castaneum and R. dominica. Mortality data was collected at 24, 48, and 72-hour intervals and analyzed using statistical methods. The mortality rates for Tribolium castaneum exposed to Deltamethrin were 47.588%, 58.932%, and 74.637% at each time interval, while for Rhyzopertha dominica, the rates were 50.347%, 58.294%, and 74.221%. The mortality rates caused by Datura stramonium were 18.279%, 25.362%, and 36.730% for T. castaneum, and 24.211%, 40.183%, and 51.485% for R. dominica. For T. castaneum, Zingiber officinale induced mortality rates of 8.421%, 12.506%, and 22.548%, and for R. dominica, 11.727%, 18.577%, and 30.362%. According to the findings, Datura stramonium is more potent than Zingiber officinale, and Deltamethrin is more potent than plant extracts