Impact of different wheat cultivars on lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) under storage conditions

Abstract

Wheat is one of the most important staple foods of India and is infested by several stored grain insect-pest in storage. Out of all these, lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) is the economically important one causing substantial losses to various cereals including wheat. The present investigations were carried out to know about the differences in certain biological parameters of lesser grain borer feeding on different wheat cultivars. Out of all seven cultivars screened, HPW-155 had maximum adult emergence (111.67), susceptibility index (11.69), orientation preference (24.44) and shortest developmental period (40.33), while, HPW-349 had minimum adult emergence (54.00), susceptibility index (7.40), orientation preference (7.67) and longest developmental period (54.00) and the rest cultivars had mediocre values. The borer completed its life cycle on all the cultivars, however, HPW-349 was found to be least susceptible one and should be preferred over others in future for long storage purpose.