Insect pests, Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in stored wheat: A survey at North Bihar (India)

Fifty stored wheat samples (25 each of insect pest free and infested) were collected from North Bihar (India). Of the four major pests recorded, Sitophilus oryzae was the dominant insect, followed by Tribolium castaneum, Rhizopertha dominica and Trogoderma granarium. Aspergillus flavus was recorded in all samples: infection in insect-damaged samples was 87% and in insect-free samples 25%. Aflatoxin contamination was found in 19 and 2 of the insect-damaged and insect-free lots respectively. The role of insect pests in making wheat grains vulnerable to A. flavus infection and subsequent aflatoxin production is discussed.