Assessment of quantitative losses in different wheat varieties due to Sitophilus oryzae

Abstract

Increased wheat demand is driven by a rapidly growing population and a change in food preference away from traditional cereals and towards wheat and wheat products. Rice weevil is widely distributed in the world and its cause’s damage to stored products, specially stored grains. Damage caused by pest result in loss of seed weight and vigor. Ten varieties of wheat viz., Raj-1482, Raj-3077, Raj-3765, Raj-3777, Raj-4037, Raj-4079, Raj-4083, Raj-4120, Raj-4238 and Raj-Molyarodhak-1 were screened against S. oryzae in relation to per cent grain damage, weight loss and avoidable loss. The percentage of damaged grains and loss in weight of different wheat varieties due to infestation of the weevil from 29.00 to 58.77 and 8.33 to 16.29, respectively, being maximum damaged grains and weight loss in Raj-1482, while minimum grain damage and weight loss in Raj-4037.