Relative Susceptibility of Rice Variety (D-98) (Oryza sativa L.) to Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in Storage
Relative Susceptibility of Rice Variety (D-98) (Oryza sativa L.) to Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in Storage
Nosheen Jehajo* and Naheed Shah
ABSTRACT
The commercial availability of rice has been increasing due to consumer demands, which raises new challenges for the management of stored grain insect pests since little is known about the vulnerability of aromatic rice varieties to infestation of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) during storage. In the present study it was investigated the susceptibility of (D-98) (Oryza sativa L.) locally known as basmati rice, (its long and broken grains) to T. castaneum. In order to find out their quantitative and qualitative losses and pest status of red flour beetle by its growth rate on tested variety. Both host samples were obtained from a local market at Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. The experiment was set-up in a completely randomized design (CRD) in the laboratory at ambient environmental conditions (30ºC and 65% relative humidity) for a period of 90 days. This experiment was replicated by thrice. Five hundred grams of each rice sample were artificially infested with 5 pairs of T. castaneum in 2 k.g glass containers with netted lids. ANOVA analysis showed variations among both tested samples in the pre- and post- infestation and it was strongly dependent on the eggs laid, development time of T. castaneum and host weight loss. The results showed that broken rice was significantly (P<0.05) more susceptible due to increased progeny growth and decreased developmental period while the long grains were moderately resistant due to decreased progeny growth and increased developmental period of T. castaneum. There was significantly (P<0.05) higher mean mortality of adults on long grain (80%) and least on broken rice (25%) after 30, 60 and 90 days of infestation. While mean weight loss percentage was significantly (P<0.05) higher in broken grains (25%) and least in long grains (8.75%). The outcome of this study underscores the need of preventive measures against T. castaneum to avoid economic losses to rice destined for long storage duration.
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