EFFICACY OF MINT AND EUCALYPTUS LEAVES ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STORED WHEAT AGAINST INSECT INFESTATION

Wheat treated with mint and eucalyptus leaves powder was stored for si x months in four different storage structures viz., jute bags, peru (m ade from bamboo strips), metal bins and polythene bags. Samples were a nalysed at monthly intervals for physico-chemical characteristics. Aft er six months of storage, per cent damage increased, whereas weight an d density decreased in untreated wheat, but no significant (P < 0.05) changes were observed in treated grains. Proximate principles increase d signficantly (P < 0.05) in untreated grains except crude fat which d ecreased, but no significant changes were observed in their treated co unterparts. Mint leaves powder was able to protect wheat stored in dif ferent storage structures for 6 months, whereas eucalyptus leaves had their protective effects only for 5 months.