Effect of Carbon Dioxide on Corn Weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Mostschulsky) Survival and Corn Quality During Storage

Abstract

Effect of CO, on corn weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Mostschulsky) survival and corn quality during storage has been studied in Randomized Complete Block Design Replicated 4 times. Five treatments are 0.03% (control), lo%, 20%, 30% and 40% of CO, concentrations. Each concentration was purged in each polyethylene bottle together with 2 Kilograms of corn and 20 insects. The study has been done in room temperature (30-3.5 “C) and stored for a period of 8 months. It has been shown that the number of live and dead weevil, percentage of weevil damaged, weight of waste product in treated bottles were significantly less than that of the control. Growth rate of weevil was found to be negative correlation with the CO, concentrations. The pH of corn grain stored with 0.03, 10, 20, 30 or 40% of CO, reduced from 6.47 to 6.21, 6.17, 6.11, 6.05 and 6.03 respectively. The pH was reduced when corn grain was stored for a long time. The moisture content of grain found slightly increase and non-significant difference among treatments.