STORAGE CONDITIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON INSECTS INCIDENCE IN SORGHUM SEEDS

F. LOPES FILHO, MARCOS VINICIUS ASSUNÇÃO E FRANCISCO VALTER VIEIRA

 

The objective of this research was to evaluate the package type, moisture content and the storage temperature effects on insect incidence in grain sorghum seeds. The seeds were packed in sealed cans, cloth and polypropylene bags, and stored under natural conditions in four sites in the state of Ceará: Fortaleza, Quixadá, Morada Nova and Ubajara. ln the research beginning and every two months, during the storage period the seed moisture content flutuation and the insects damaged seeds percentage were checked. the experimental designe was totaly randoniized and consist of five storage periods (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 months), three package types (sealed cans, cloth and polypropylene) and four replications. It was observed that metal can is the best in preserving the seeds against insect damage. According to the obtained data, the insects that damaged the seeds are: the angoumois grain month, Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv. 1789), the red flour bettle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) and the corn weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Mota., 1855). It was found that the seeds stored in Ubajara were less damaged than the seeds stored in other places.



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