Abstract
BackgroundNumerous biotic and abiotic factors are responsible for losses of grains quality and quantity during storage. Insecticides used to control stored grain insect pests are not only hazardous to mammals and environment but also induce resistance in insect pests towards these synthetic chemicals. A current trial was conducted, during 2020, in a stored grain laboratory at the College of Agriculture, BZU, Bahadur Sub Campus, Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan. A diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation enhanced with bitterbarkomycin (DEBBM) and combined with Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin was evaluated against Cryptolestes ferrugineus, (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) under laboratory conditions.ResultsDEBBM was applied at the rate of 50 mg/kg, DE (150 mg/kg) and Beauveria bassiana (1.5 × 108 and 1.5 × 1010 conidia/kg) alone as well as in combination with wheat, rice and maize. Treated adult mortality was recorded at 7, 14 and 21 days after exposure. Results of the current study showed that insect pest mortality was maximum in the case of combined application of DEBBM with B. bassiana (high concentration) at prolonged exposure time as compared to their alone application. Mortality of C. ferrugineus was maximum in wheat and rice (100%) over maize (97%), while, R. dominica exhibited high mortality in wheat (100%) followed by rice (97%) and maize (94%) at combined application of DEBBM with B. bassiana (high concentration) after 21 days. Regarding T. castaneum mortality was high in wheat (100%) followed by rice (93%) and maize (88%) in case of combined application of DEBBM with B. bassiana (high concentration) at prolonged exposure time (21 days).ConclusionIn crux, the current trial showed that a mixture of DEBBM and B. bassiana is helpful in controlling tested insect pests.
Highlights
Numerous biotic and abiotic factors are responsible for losses of grains quality and quantity during storage
The mortality of R. dominica was maximum on wheat as compared to maize and rice
2 diatomaceous earth (DE) were tested because of their differences in composition: the Protect-It comprises silica-aerogel and the DE with Bitterbarkomycin (DEBBM) formulation of DE is improved with the bitterbarkomycin (BBM)
Summary
Numerous biotic and abiotic factors are responsible for losses of grains quality and quantity during storage. Results: DEBBM was applied at the rate of 50 mg/kg, DE (150 mg/kg) and Beauveria bassiana (1.5 × 108 and 1.5 × 1010 conidia/kg) alone as well as in combination with wheat, rice and maize. Results of the current study showed that insect pest mortality was maximum in the case of combined application of DEBBM with B. bassiana (high concentration) at prolonged exposure time as compared to their alone application. Regarding T. castaneum mortality was high in wheat (100%) followed by rice (93%) and maize (88%) in case of combined application of DEBBM with B. bassiana (high concentration) at prolonged exposure time (21 days). Rice is the second chief food of Pakistan that covers 11% of the food production area and is cultivated on more than 2.5 million hectares (Chaudhry 1994). The Annual cultivation of maize is more than one million hectares (GOP 2003).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
