Fatty Acids Present in Wheat Kernels Influence the Development of the Grain Weevil (Sitophilus granarius L.)

Abstract

Sitophilus granarius (L.) is considered to be one of the major pests causing damage to cereal grain stored in silos and granaries. Using traditional methods (synthetic insecticides, mechanical, or physical methods) to control this pest is either ineffective or dangerous to people and nature. It is, therefore, necessary to develop new cultivars of cereals that will be distinguished by a high natural tolerance of the foraging by S. granarius. The aim of this study is expressed in the set research hypothesis, stating that the number of offspring of the grain weevil on stored wheat kernels can depend on the content of fatty acids in the kernels. Thus, the qualitative and quantitative composition of fatty acids was determined in kernels of 10 winter wheat cultivars, and the abundance of the beetle’s offspring generation of S. granarius that developed on the wheat grain, as well as the mass of produced dust and loss in the mass of wheat grain were determined. By applying statistical analyses (GLM, ANOVA, Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient, and analysis of redundancy), the presence and character of the dependence between the determined content of fatty acids in wheat grain and the factors describing the development of S. granarius were established. The research results indicate that fatty acids from the groups C 18:1 and C 20:1 probably play an important role as substances stimulating the increase in the number of the tested pest progeny. In contrast, fatty acids C 15:0, C 16:1, and C 18:3, which were determined in large amounts in the grain of wheat cultivars Speedway, KWS Livius, and Julius, can reduce the number of offspring of pest insect.

Effect of different chemical properties of cereal grains on the foraging and microbiome of the rice weevil (<i>Sitophilus oryzae</i> L.)

“…It is assumed that storage pests may be responsible for losses of 30-40% (Abass et al, 2014;Kumar and Kalita, 2017). These are quantitative and qualitative losses related to grain mass loss or excrement and dead insects appearing in the stored product due to insect feeding (Nietupski et al, 2021). The occurrence of insect storage pests contributes to an increase in the temperature and humidity of grain, as a result of which unfavourable biochemical processes occur.…”

Combined analysis of metabolome and transcriptome of wheat kernels reveals constitutive defense mechanism against maize weevils

“…Maize weevils and other stored grain pests not only devour the whole grain but also cause heat, mildew infection, and caking of stored grain, which significantly decrease grain quantity and compromise the safety of grain storage ( Edde, 2012 ; Antunes et al., 2016 ). After the kernels are infected by stored grain pests, the fat content and gluten content, as well as, sedimentation value decrease.Additionally the acidity increases, that adversely affect the quality of wheat storage and processing ( Keskin and Ozkaya, 2014 ; Nietupski et al., 2021 ). In addition, stored pests excrete feces and larval fragments also affecting quality of the infested grain ( Ortegadorame, 1997 ; Edde, 2012 ).…”

Türkiye'deki Sitophilus oryzae L., 1763 ve Sitophilus granarius L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) popülasyonlarında malathion direncinin belirlenmesi

“…Sitophilus granarius had the highest density in the wheat warehouses of Kütahya province with a rate of 52.6%, followed by O. surinamensis with a rate of 40.2% (Zengin & Karaca, 2020). In addition, it has been reported that these two species are widespread throughout the world (Mason & McDonough, 2012;Correa et al, 2013;Keszthelyi et al, 2021;Nietupski et al, 2021). Grain damaged by these insects decreases in nutritional and market value, as well as in germination percentage and weight.…”