Investigating the impact of select oils on mortality and progeny production of Rhyzopertha dominica infesting wheat

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

The degradation of stored wheat due to pest infestations is a significant concern, with pests such as Rhyzopertha dominica playing a crucial role. This study investigated the effectiveness of six essential oils against this pest in laboratory conditions. The oils were tested at five concentrations (0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0%). Importantly, all concentrations led to considerable pest mortality and demonstrated the ability to suppress the production of pest progeny over time. The results indicated a gradual increase in mortality rates of R. dominica adults with higher concentrations and longer exposure times to the tested plant oils. Among the various treatments, the application of 2.0% proved to be the most effective, resulting in increased mortality and a complete elimination of pest progeny, as well as a complet reduction in the percentage of weight loss in the grains. The findings suggested that the viability of wheat grains was minimally affected by the application of the tested plant oils. At this application rate, grains exhibited no adverse effects, maintaining a normal texture, color, and appearance.

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