Abstract

Chemical composition of chickpea seeds treated with three plants extracts namely, Azadirachta indica (kernels), Allium satium (bulb) and Piper nigrum (seeds) after infestation with three pairs of cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus, had been evaluated after one month. The seeds were also taken for analysis of nutritional changes from culture infested with C. maculatus after one and six months of infection. An increase in total ash and protein content has been noticed while crude fat (ether extract) and total carbohydrate decreases with increased weevilisation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seeds. No significant change in nutritional component has been found in seeds treated with petroleum ether extract of neem kernels, garlic bulb and black pepper seeds, however, statistical analysis showed significant difference in biochemical components of infected and normal seeds.

Key words: Bruchid, chickpea, plant extracts and nutritional changes.