Can kaolin protect peanut seeds against Tribolium castaneum attack?

Abstract

This work aimed evaluating kaolin action on seed coating of peanut cultivar BR1 on Tribolium
castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidade). This research was carried out at the Entomology
Laboratory at the Embrapa Cotton. One hundred adult insects per treatment were used. Eight
evaluations at two days interval until the 15th day were accomplished. Variables were dead
insects and punched seeds number. Treatments were different kaolin concentrations (1, 2, 3,
4 and 5%) and the Control (non-treated seeds), replicate four times. T. castaneum cumulative
mortality and the punched seeds percentage was evaluated. The efficiency was calculated by
Abbott method (1925). Damages varied from 8.59 to 12.50% in treatments with kaolin and of
17.19% in the control. The caulim was not efficient in protecting peanut seed against T. castaneum
attack and did not inhibited the insect’s capacity in causing injuries.