PERDAS OCASIONADAS POR Sitophilus spp., EM GENÓTIPOS COMERCIAIS DE MILHO, EM CONDIÇÕES DE LABORATÓRIO

Abstract

Among the insect pests that attack the corn stored, the weevil can be considered as the most important, being the genus Sitophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), one of his best known . This study aimed to give consideration of the losses caused by the maize weevil Sitophilus sp., in different genotypes of commercial corn in laboratory conditions. The genotypes studied were Al Bandeirante, 2B 688, 2B 710, AG 2060, 30F80, CO32, Biomatrix 2202. To test the effect of Sitophilus, were initially weighed 90 grams of grains of genotypes, which were packed in Petri dishes, freeing themselves to the interior 15 adult insects without age or sex known. For each genotype were made 6 replications, so that later, during the analysis of the results, one sample was discarded to produce a greater discrepancy in relation to data obtained, a total of 42 boards for the test, undergoing a controlled environment, in an acclimatized chamber, with of 27± 1°C for 130 days. It also estimated the moisture of grain at the time of the weevil infestation and at the end of the period of storage. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks, evaluated by the Tukey test. After the closure of the test, 103 days after storage, the assessment was conducted by counting the number of weevil, weighing of grain damaged and healthy. The results revealed that the genotypes 2B 688 and 2B 710, by having the appropriate level of water storage, after the period of 103 days, showed the lowest number of insects, the largest total weight of grain, the greater weight of healthy grains and smaller percentage of grains damaged, for the other genotypes studied.