The effect of modified atmospheres on the developmental stages of Sitotroga cerealella in stored wheat

• Published in: Journal of stored products research 2025-05, Vol.111, Article 102497
• Main Authors: Gad, Hassan A., Mohamed, Hamdy A., Abd El-Ghaffar, Mohamed M., Ibrahim, Ibrahim L., Ahmed, Sayeda S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angoumois grain moth; Carbon dioxide; Grain components; Mortality; Survival
• ISSN: 0022-474X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102497

The efficacy of modified atmosphere with CO2 gas in three concentrations (20, 40 and 80%) for seven exposure times against different stages of Sitotroga cerealella were assessed. Mortality percent of life stages, adult emergence, F1 progeny, and chemical components in wheat grains were evaluated. The complete egg mortality (100 %) was achieved by 80% CO2 and exposure time (48 h) with LT50 value (2.5 h), 40 %CO2 and exposure time (96 h) with LT50 value (6.9 h) and 20% CO2 and exposure time (120 h) with LT50 value (18.8 h). The present study showed also, that larvae and pupae of S. cerealella were more tolerant than eggs. These two stages affected with increasing CO2 concentrations resulted reduction in adult emergence. Furthermore, the full mortality of adults was obtained by 20% CO2 after exposure time 96 h with LT50 value (26.9 h) and 40% CO2 after exposure time 72 h with LT50 value (12.8 h), respectively. The modified atmosphere affected progeny and reduced the adult emergence and the F1 generation more than half of resulted offspring from all life stages of S. cerealella. Also, the modified atmosphere caused slightly reduction in chemical components of wheat grains. These findings suggest that modified atmosphere may be a useful method for the management of this insect pest. •Modified atmospheres (MAs) with 20, 40 and 80% CO2 were assessed against developmental stages of Sitotroga cerealella.•The effect of MAs on chemical components of stored wheat grains was also evaluated.•The complete mortality was recorded after 48 h in eggs exposed to MA containing 80% CO2.•Larvae and pupae of S. cerealella were more tolerant than the eggs.•MAs caused slightly reduction in chemical components of wheat grains.