author(s)
Wazid, Sushila Nadagouda, A Prabhuraj, R Harishchanra Naik, NM Shakuntala and H Sharanagouda

abstract
Postharvest losses in India are estimated to be around 10 per cent in developed countries and 20 per cent or more in developing countries due to lack of proper storage facilities, improper handling of grains, and spillage of grains, besides contaminating food products through the presence of live insects, chemical excretions, dead insects and insect body fragments. The excessive use of pesticides and chemical compounds affects the grain quality and unsuitable for human consumption and also has an adverse effect on environment. This experiment was conducted at Centre for Nanotechnology Laboratory, UAS, Raichur. The green nanoparticles of zinc, copper and silica were biologically synthesized from Spinach leaves, tulasi leaves and paddy husk respectively, and these nanoparticles were characterized by Zetasizer, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The pesticidal effects of these green nanoparticles were used as stored product insect protectants compared to malathion as standard reference. Among the different nanoparticles the concentration of 1500 ppm of Silica nanoparticle proved to be superior by recording highest mortality, lowest number of eggs, lowest adults emerged, least seed damage, and seed weight loss in both in sorghum and chick pea seeds up to five months of storage then compare to zinc and copper nanoparticles.