EVALUATION OF SOME PLANT-PRODUCTS AGAINST TROGODERMA-GRANARIUM EVERTSIN SORGHUM AND THEIR EFFECTS ON NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION AND ORGANOLEPTIC CHARACTERISTICS

The efficacy of neem, citrus, garlic and podina powders and neem oil a t 1 and 2% level (w/w) in sorghum grains was evaluated against larvae of Trogoderma granarium. Neem kernel powder and neem oh completely pre vented damage by an introduced larval population. In other treatments, grain damage was noticeable after 3 months, although significantly le ss than in untreated grains. Thereafter, the percentage of damaged ker nels increased progressively and reached as high as 29% (neem leaf), 4 4% (citrus), 56% (podina) and 71% (garlic) compared to 85% in the cont rol after 6 months. Nutritional composition viz., moisture, ash, fibre , fat, protein and carbohydrates of treated grains remained unaffected after I month of storage. After 6 months, changes in nutritional comp osition were proportional to insect damage. Chapatis (unleavened bread ) prepared from flour of treated grains after 1 and 6 months were of n ormal colour, appearance and texture, but in all cases, their taste, a roma and overall acceptability were adversely affected either by insec t infestation or plant products or their combination. Copyright (C) 19 96 Elsevier Science Ltd