Maize Variety Screening against Maize Weevil Sitophilus zeamais under Storage in Chitwan Condition of Nepal

Abstract

Eight different varieties like QPM, Rampur Composite, RML, Mankamana-4, Arun-2, Across, Deuti and Manakamana-3 were used for varietal screening against maize weevil damage. The research was done in free-choice and no-choice conditions. Deuti variety of maize was the most susceptible variety and grain damage was recorded up to 40% whereas in long term storage condition, Across (44.81%) was the most suitable variety for weevils. The RML variety of maize was the least damaged variety and loss recorded about 18.12% in 60 days of observations. But while calculating the weight loss of the weevil, the loss 7.66% recorded in 60 days of observation in Across Variety, 6.26% in 40 days of observation in QPM and 5.06% were recorded in Deuti, whereas the lowest percent weight loss was recorded in Manakamana-4 that was 1.80% and 1.00 % in 40 days and 60 days respectively. Maximum number of F1 progenies were observed in across (74.00) and lowest were emerged in Rampur composite (32.33) and RML (32.67). The lowest germination loss was recorded in QPM (8.00%), followed by Rampur Composite (10.00%) and RML (12.67%) respectively.

Assessment of Barley Varieties Potential to Grain Weevil Infestation at Storage

“…This indicates that newly released varieties are more favorable for weevil reproduction than local variety; this means that the chance of those varieties being attacked by weevils may be high. The results of [15] conform with ours that in ten rice varieties they investigated granary weevil produced and [4] also the found number of weevil produced ranged from 32.33 to 74 in maize crop varieties.…”

“…Similarly, [4] also found the percentage of the damaged seed ranges from 12.43 %-31.74 % in maize crop varieties due to Maize Weevil Sitophilus zeamais. In this study, the variety which accounts for maximum grain damaged also accounts for a high percentage of weight loss.…”

“…This shows that all the studied varieties have different responses to resist the Sitophilus granarius. Sharma and Tiwari [4] also reported that grain damage percent was significantly different among the tested maize varieties due to Sitophilus spp.…”

“…Granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius) is considered as one of the important and destructive insect pests of stored food grains and lives in the stores all the time because it does not possess the second pair of wings and cannot fly. The larva consumes about 55% of the interior of the wheat kernel and the body of weevil varies from brown to black with a shiny upper surface [4]. The granary weevil primarily afflicts grains such as wheat, barley, rye, and oats, as well as triticale, corn, rice, millet, and sometimes manufactured pasta.…”

“…So, there is an urge to protect them safely from qualitative and quantitative loss. The effect of crop management options varies with the type of grains, prevailing insect species, environmental conditions, and storage systems [4]. Post-harvest grain loss refers to a decrease in quantity and or quality of grain mass.…”