Variation in the stored grain pest Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) infestation at low and high moisture storage conditions among some indigenous rice genotypes of West Bengal

Abstract

The food security programme is negatively impacted by postharvest losses (PHLs). In terms of providing food for a nation, proper grain postharvest (PHV) storage is more crucial than intense and widespread farming. Reducing post-harvest losses of food crops is essential to raising agricultural production sustainably. Each year, insects and diseases destroy or harm a fifth or more of stored food grains in many regions of the world. The angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Oliver), is a major stored grain pest of rice. Control of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) is still much dependent on the use of toxic chemicals though there is a chance of residual toxicity to the non-target organism. Rice, wheat, and corn are just a few examples of grains that are crucial to the economic stability of many nations. Cereals like rice, wheat and corn play an important role in the economic stability of many countries. Some indigenous rice varieties of rice are reported to be tolerant of this pest. This study was undertaken to identify West Bengal indigenous rice varieties susceptible to the stored grain pest S. cerealella infestation at low and high moisture storage conditions.