Studies of Physico-chemical Traits and Grain Protectants of wheat

Wheat crop is relatively safe from insects in field but the grains suffer considerably high losses during storage. Rhizopertha dominica, the most commonest species, commonly known as lesser grain borer has an important position among the stored grain pests and caused considerable damage to wheat in storage. The losses during storage by the pests are not only in terms of quantity, but also in quality of the food grains. The qualitative losses are attributed to changes in chemical components of grains. It was found that grain with over 0.5% kernel infestation was unfit for milling, and that wheat flour containing over 10 mg uric acid/100 g from insect contamination was unacceptable to consumers. Therefore, investigation carried out on growth and development of Rhizopertha dominica Fabr. on different wheat varieties to find out relative degree of resistance in relation to their physical and chemical traits and to evaluate the efficacy of indigenous plant products as grain protectants.