Groundnut, coconut and mustard oil treated whole chick pea, mung bean and pigeon pea were infested with Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) and stored for six months. Samples were analysed at monthly intervals for selected B complex vitamins viz. thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. With increase in storage period, values for all the three vitamins decreased in untreated legues. After two months of storage slight decrease in thiamine, riboflavin and niacin content of coconut oil trea-ted legumes was observed which continued till the end of six months as compared to the other two oil treated counterparts. The storage period was associated with insect infestation, which in turn influenced the B complex vitamins of legumes. Groundnut, mustard and coconut oils were able to protect legumes for six months against insect infestation when applied in small amount (0.5%), whereas coconut oil had protective effect against insect infestation only for four months.
2 Methods
Chick pea (Cicer uritinum L.) G-24 and mung bean (vignu rudiia L.
Wilzeck) K-185 were procured from the Directorate of Farms, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, and pigeon pea (Cajunus cujan L. Mill Sp) was procured from the local market of Hisar.
2.1 Insect culture
The pulse beetles (C. chinensis) Dhora were obtained from the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, and released in 500 g of chick pea in a container covered with muslin cloth. Then the