Fecundity and ability of the parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to find larvae of the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in bulk grain

Fecundity and host finding behavior in the storage environment were examined for the parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus (Förster), a potential agent for biological control of stored-product pest beetles. Larvae of the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.), in wheat were used as hosts. The fecundity varied considerably among strains of different geographical origin, from 1.3±2.4 to 92.5±23.6 offspring per female parasitoid. Host finding ability was examined in a small acrylic cylinder (about 42 kg wheat), a silo-bin (20.5 t wheat grain), and the flat storage grain bin in a commercial facility (3000 t rye). Experiments in the cylinder and the silo-bin revealed that the number of hosts found by the parasitoids decreases with increasing depth. Moreover, parasitoids were more likely to find hosts in the cylinder than under field storage conditions in a silo-bin. This indicates that the density of parasitoids per unit volume of the grain might be an important factor in determining how deep they penetrate a grain layer. In the silo-bin and the commercial grain store, parasitoids were able to find and parasitize hosts located up to 4 m vertically and horizontally from the release point. The significance of these results with respect to the suitability of L. distinguendus for biological control of the granary weevil is discussed.     

Detection of granary weevil Sitophilus granarius (L.) eggs and internal stages in wheat grain using soft X-ray and image analysis

In order to prevent grain mass and quality losses, rapid methods for early detection of insect infestation of cereal grain during trade and storage are urgently needed. Amongst many options, the soft X-ray method using roentgenograms is one of the most frequently applied. It has been shown that when some corrections for working parameters of the equipment used are made and some modification of the digital image analysis introduced, the soft X-ray method is suitable for accurate detection of granary weevil eggs laid in wheat kernels if at least 5 days after oviposition have elapsed.     

Susceptibility of Ethiopian wheat varieties to granary weevil and rice weevil infestation at optimal and sub-optimal temperatures

Integrating varietal resistance with temperature manipulation during storage may provide a better option for protection of stored grains and may decrease reliance on the use of synthetic chemicals. The current study was conducted to determine the susceptibility of different varieties of wheat seed to the infestation by the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.), and rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), at optimal (30 °C) and sub-optimal (19 °C) temperatures. Kernels of six wheat varieties namely, Danda'a, Digalu, ET-13-A2, Kakaba, Millennium, and Pavon-76 were examined over a period of 90 d. Significant interactions were detected between wheat varieties and storage temperature for progeny emergence, percentage of insect damaged kernels, grain weight loss, and amount of powder produced per gram of wheat. Kernels of Danda'a, infested with S. oryzae at 30 °C exhibited significantly lower mean progeny counts (13.3 live insects), lower percentage of grain weight loss (4.2%) and insect-damaged kernels (6.4%), and powder production (1.5 mg/g). Kernel weight and hardness index were negatively associated with percentage of insect damaged kernels and grain weight loss. Kernel diameter was positively associated with both of percentage of insect damaged kernels and grain weight loss. Wheat varieties with high Zeleny sedimentation values had lower percentage of insect-damaged kernels and grain weight loss. These results indicated that kernel weight, hardness index, and protein content are predominant factors contributing to wheat resistance against S. granarius and S. oryzae. The varieties Millennium and Danda'a can be considered with other integrated pest management approaches to reduce stored grain losses of wheat in Ethiopia.     

Effect of gaseous ozone treatments on DON,microbial contaminants and technological parameters of wheat and semolina

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is an important mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium. It occurs often in wheat grain and is frequently associated with significant levels of its modified form DON-3-glucoside (DON-3-Glc). Ozone (O₃) is a powerful disinfectant and oxidant, classified as GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe), that reacts easily with specific compounds including the mycotoxins aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes and zearalenone. It degrades DON in aqueous solution and can be effective for decontamination of grain. This study reports the efficacy of gaseous ozone treatments in reducing DON, DON-3-Glc, bacteria, fungi and yeasts in naturally contaminated durum wheat. A prototype was used to dispense ozone continuously and homogeneously at different concentrations and exposure time, in 2 kg aliquots of durum wheat. The optimal conditions, which do not affect chemical and rheological parameters of durum wheat, semolina and pasta, were identified (55 g O₃ h^?1 for 6 h). The measured mean reductions of DON and DON-3-Glc in ozonated wheat were 29% and 44%, respectively. Ozonation also produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of total count (CFU/g) of bacteria, fungi and yeasts in wheat grains.     

The effect of gamma and microwave irradiation of wheat grain on development parameters of some stored grain pests

Wheat grain was treated with different doses of gamma irradiation or different times of microwaves. Gamma rays (0.05-10 kGy) caused statistically significant differences in soluble protein contents and kernel hardness. Microwave treatment (15-180 s) resulted in some statistically significant changes in moisture and soluble protein contents. Mortality, intensity of feeding, fertility of adults, progeny number and development time of larvae of the granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius L.) on treated grain were observed. On the basis of progeny number and larval development time the coefficient of food value (CFV) was calculated. Some statistical differences were stated in studied parameters, however no one in all calculated coefficients of food values. The same treated grain was also used as a food for larvae of the confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum Duv.) and Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella Zell.). Mortality of larvae and their development time were studied. Only gamma irradiated wheat grain at the dose 0.1 kGy used as a food for larvae of T. confusum Duv. caused statistically significant extension of development time by 7 days, when comparing to the control food. On the other hand, microwave treatment of wheat grain used as food significantly shorten the development time of larvae in both species.     

Susceptibility of ancient wheat species to storage pests Sitophilus granarius and Tribolium confusum

The feeding behavior of storage pests colonizing the spikelets of ancient wheats remains insufficiently investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of emmer, spelt and common wheat grown under different agronomic conditions to storage pests, including the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and the Tribolium confusum (du Val) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The experiment was performed on the spikelets of two non-free-threshing wheat species, spelt Triticum spelta (L.) cv. Wirtas and emmer Triticum diccocon (Schrank) cv. Bondka, and the grain of free-threshing common wheat Triticum aestivum (L.) cv. Bombona. The remaining experimental factors were different nitrogen fertilization rates and the application of a growth regulator. Two storage pest species, the S. granarius and the T. confusum, were introduced to the experimental grain and spikelets. The results after 6 months revealed that different nitrogen fertilization rates, the application of the growth regulator and wheat species did not affect the population size of S. granarius. After 12 months of incubation, no significant changes were found in the abundance of T. confusum in response to nitrogen fertilization, growth regulator or wheat species. After 12 months of incubation, wheat species exerted an inhibitory effect on the population size of S. granarius. Spelt was the most resistant and common wheat was the least resistant wheat species. The results of this study indicate that spelt was most resistant to storage pests, whereas common wheat grain was most abundantly colonized by storage pests.     

A novel homopolymeric phytoferritin from chickpea seeds with high stability

Iron deficiency is a major public health problem in the world. Phytoferritin as an alternative iron supplement has received increasing attentions recently. Plant ferritins are usually heteropolymers comprising two different H-type subunits, H-1 and H-2, while homopolymeric plant ferritin is rare. In the present study, a newly homopolymeric ferritin chickpea seed ferritin (CSF) was isolated and purified to homogeneity from chickpea seed (Cicer arietinum L.) by two consecutive anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. SDS-PAGE result indicates that CSF only consists of 28.0 kDa (H-2) subunits, which was identified by Western blot analysis as well. N-terminal sequence and MALDITOF-MS analyses indicate that the subunit of CSF and H-2 subunit of heteropolymeric pea seed ferritin (PSF) share high identity in amino acid sequence. Subsequently, we demonstrated that homopolymeric CSF exhibits a higher catalyzing activity than heteropolymeric PSF at both low and high iron loadings. More importantly, the stability of homopolymeric CSF is much higher than all known plant ferritin due to its highest H-2 subunit content, which is favorable for its application as iron supplement.     

粮仓哲学——对储粮科技走向智慧化的哲学思考

关于科学技术影响认知变化的探索由来已久，分别形成科学哲学和技术哲学。我国储粮技术发展，经历了改革开放前的初探、改革开放后30年的现代化粮仓建设以及近10年数字化智能化开创等3个阶段。从以“四合一”储粮新技术为主构建现代化粮仓，到以信息技术形成世界上最大的粮食物联网、原创粮堆多场耦合及生物场理论、以粮情云图扫描技术实现储备粮动态监管等，中国储粮的科技进步有目共睹。新时期面临百年未有大变局、中国第二个百年奋斗目标对粮食安全的新要求以及第四次工业革命带来的冲击，粮食科技智慧化的趋势越来越显著。从我国近40多年储粮实践科技成果积累，结合团队对粮堆多场耦合和生物场理论、储备粮云图动态监管、粮食围收储自然区块链5T事联信息化管理以及粮食干燥智能EAT窗口测控方法等的研究，尝试在解构储粮系统三元微结构的基础上，以“一分为二、二分为三、三生变化”为基本思想，以机理、数据等联合驱动为智慧化策略，引入粮仓哲学，以提升对已有科技成果的认知高度、指导新时期储粮科技智慧化的探索，为构建高质量的智慧粮食体系提供支撑。粮仓哲学是对储粮实践情景的深度思考，源于储粮实践，但不限于储粮实践，具有一定的普适性。     

Effect of elevated accumulation of iron in ferritin on the antioxidants content in soybean sprouts

Cultivation of soybean sprouts in abiotic stress conditions, resulted from the presence of 5–25?mM FeSO₄ in the culture media, causes a strong overexpression of ferritin. Accumulation of ferritin iron in sprouted seeds germinated in the 20?mM solution of FeSO₄ was 67 times higher than in sprouts germinated in distilled water. The cultivation conditions also influence on another antioxidant content—mainly β-carotene content, which increased 28 times (in sprouts cultured in 10?mM FeSO₄ solution) in comparison to the content in dry seeds. Obtained in stress conditions sprouted seeds contain less tocochromanoles than raw seeds. However, their total tocochromanol content was higher than in sprouted seeds cultured in distilled water in every examined concentration of Fe²⁺. A total antioxidant activity is increased only during culturing in 0–10?mM media, and it is positively correlated to the total phenolic compounds content (r?=?0.8498). We concluded that germination in high abiotic stress also causes the increase in different antioxidants content, not only in ferritin, which is directly involved in the process of iron detoxification.     

Metals in mandibles of stored product insects: do zinc and manganese enhance the ability of larvae to infest seeds?

Although high concentrations of zinc and manganese were found in mandibles of insect larvae that bore into seeds, these metals were not detected in mandibles of insect larvae that attack previously damaged seeds. Metals were present in the larval mandibles of a lepidopteran, the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella), and eight coleopterans, the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica), cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne), drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum), spider beetle (Gibbium aequinoctiale), warehouse beetle (Trogoderma variabile), cadelle (Tenebroides mauritanicus), larger black flour beetle (Cynaeus angustus), and cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus). Larvae of these species can chew into seeds. Larvae of six other coleopterans, the varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci), sawtoothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis), rusty grain beetle (Cryptolestes ferrugineus), red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), longheaded flour beetle (Latheticus oryzae), and granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius) have little if any ability to chew into seeds, and did not have metal in their mandibles. Larvae of the granary weevil hatch and feed within seeds that were penetrated previously during egg deposition by adults. However, newly hatched larvae of the cowpea weevil and the Angoumois grain moth have to bore through the seed coat before they begin feeding, and they have mandibles with high concentrations of zinc. These data support the hypothesis that deposition of zinc and/or manganese in larval mandibles enhances the larva's ability to penetrate seeds.     

Technological Assessment of Chestnut Flour Doughs Regarding to Doughs from Other Commercial Flours and Formulations

The technological assessment of chestnut flour doughs was studied using Mixolab® apparatus, establishing a comparison with gluten (soft, hard and whole wheat) and gluten-free (rice and yellow corn) flour doughs as well as corn starch pastrymaking and breadmaking formulations. This equipment measures the torque in function of temperature and time, firstly at 30 °C (mixing curve) and secondly the mixing during heating (4 °C/min up to 90 °C) and cooling (4 °C/min up to 50 °C) steps (complete curve). Different hydrations of doughs ranging from 41.4% to 68.5% (flour basis) were necessary to reach the torque of 1.10?±?0.07 Nm. Parameters of mixing such as water absorption, development time, stability and mixing tolerance index were obtained. Parameters of heating and cooling cycle related to weakening of proteins, gelatinization starch, amylase activity and starch retrogradation as well as range of gelatinization temperatures were also determined. Chestnut flour showed suitable parameters in the mixing stage such as arrival time (1.93?±?0.1 min), stability (12.1?±?0.4 min) and departure time (14.0?±?0.3 min). In the heating cycle, chestnut flour exhibited close behaviour to soft wheat flour with cooking stability of 1.12?±?0.01 min and seems to be suitable for pastrymaking products. Finally, in the cooling cycle the behaviour revealed that products of this flour can present problems of staling and crumbs firmness due to high values (2.88 Nm) of C5 parameter.     

非通风状态新型地下粮仓储粮温度场的CFD数值模拟

地下粮仓储粮温度场是保证储粮品质和绿色生态储粮的重要影响因素。针对地下粮仓试验仓,该文利用Gambit软件建立了地下粮仓的三维立体模型,并对模型进行了网格划分,采用CFD数值模拟方法研究了非通风状态地下粮仓粮食储存过程中粮堆温度场的变化规律。通过编写和导入UDF函数,改进CFD软件中的质量控制方程、动量控制方程和壁面热量传递控制方程,通过迭代计算和基于CFD软件模拟得到了地下粮仓非通风状态条件下温度场的变化规律,研究结果表明,随着地下仓储粮时间的变长,仓内粮堆温度与周围维护结构之间、粮堆之间不停的进行着热质交换,最终温度逐渐趋于当地地下恒温温度值附近,地下仓可以作为一种经济适用的仓型来推广;同时,本文的研究可以为地下粮仓的温度场控制提供参考和依据,为粮堆机械通风手段作为参考。     

A comparison of screening methods for insect contamination in wheat

In collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture and a number of major milling companies, the “Insect-Detect” immunoassay for analyzing insect contamination in grains has been compared with three more traditional methods, X-ray analysis, cracking and flotation, and the insect fragment test (IFT). Testing was carried out in blind fashion using clean wheat samples that were spiked with differing numbers of grain kernels infested with late instar larvae of the granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius (L.)). Three different laboratories analyzed the samples for each of the four methods. The collaborative trials showed that the insect immunoassay clearly provided the most accurate measurement of actual insect infestation, followed by X-ray analysis. While both cracking and flotation and IFT procedures provided a general measure of contamination, they showed much greater variability.     

Metal Determination in Tea,Wheat, and Wheat Flour Using Diluted Nitric Acid,High-Efficiency Nebulizer,and Axially Viewed ICP OES

This study deals with the determination of Cu, Al, Cd, Mo, Pb, V, Sr, Ni, Cr, Co, Zn, Mn, and Fe in tea, wheat grain, and wheat flour by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) with axially viewed plasma. Ultrasonic nebulization (USN) or pneumatic nebulization with aerosol desolvation (PN/DES) is used to introduce the sample solution into the ICP. Solutions of nitric acid (HNO₃) with different concentrations of the acid (4.6 to 9.1 mol L^?1) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were investigated for sample decomposition in closed vessel (made of TFM-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) under microwave irradiation. Certified reference materials of tea, wheat flour, or bush branches and leaves were analyzed (0.5 g of sample in the presence of 2 mL H₂O₂?+?3 mL HNO₃?+?2 mL H₂O). Element concentrations found were in accordance with those certified in most cases, excepting for Al and V. Plasma-related matrix effects were not observed as denoted by the signal of the Ar 420.069-nm emission line. The analyte recoveries in spiked chamomile tea and wheat flour samples ranged from 87 to 107 %. By using USN, the limits of quantification (LOQs) of Cu, Al, Cd, Mo, Pb, V, Sr, Ni, Cr, Co, Zn, Mn, and Fe were 0.033, 0.006, 0.023, 0.33, 2.0, 0.33, 0.001, 0.33, 0.07, 0.033, 0.07, 0.001, and 0.02 μg g^?1, respectively. Quite similar LOQs were obtained for both nebulizers employed, with the exception of Pb; the LOQ of Pb was three times lower by using PN/DES. Commercialized tea, wheat grain, and wheat flour were analyzed, and the concentrations found were reported.     

The influence of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) on the technological quality of cereal grains treated with diatomaceous earth

Laboratory bioassays (temperature 26 ± 1 °C and 60 ± 5% r. h.) were performed to evaluate the insecticidal effect of three different diatomaceous earths (DE) against Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) in wheat, triticale and rye. In order to achieve this, the amount of damaged kernels, amount of debris, wet gluten content, gluten index and rheological properties were assessed in infested samples, infested samples treated with DE Protect-It and two DEs originating from Serbia (S-1 and S-2) and were compared to control (uninfested) samples using Chopin Mixolab. The most susceptible to beetle infestation were rye sample and wheat variety Planeta. The lowest weight of damaged grain was found after applying DE Protect-It to all grain types. The amount of damaged kernels, the amount of debris and loss of mass were the highestin sample treated with DE S-2. While infestation resulted in increase in the amount of damaged kernels and debris and decrease in wet gluten content, and provoked weakening of gluten network structure as well as starch damage, an addition of DE, especially Protect-It, resulted in grain samples of similar technological quality to control (uninfested) sample. The susceptibility of different cereals used in breadmaking to infestation by R. dominica, as well as their response to the insecticidal effect of diatomaceous earth largely varied. Both cereal type and quality, as measured by wet gluten content and gluten index, influenced grain response to infestation. Insecticidal effect of diatomaceous earth, especially DE S-1and DE S-2, was the least effective in terms of triticale. These findings suggest that the application of DE in cereals storage management might largely be affected with grain type as well as grain composition and technological quality.     

Application of phytases from bifidobacteria in the development of cereal-based products with amaranth

The effects of the inclusion of purified phytases from Bifidobacterium longum spp. infantis ATCC15697 and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum ATCC27919 on phytate (InsP ₆) levels were analyzed during breadmaking process. Two different levels of whole amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) flour (25 and 50 %) were used in bread dough preparation, and they were compared to control doughs made with 100 % wheat flour and 100 % whole wheat flour. Bread samples made with 50 % of amaranth flour showed a significant decrease in technological quality parameters in comparison with control white breads. However, a 25 % of amaranth flour improved the nutritional value of the bread, with only a slight depreciation in the quality. Addition of bifidobacterial phytases resulted in higher InsP ₆ degradation compared with a commercial fungal phytase, without affecting the bread quality. InsP ₆ reduction was especially efficient in breads with 25 % amaranth, leading to InsP ₆ levels below the threshold of mineral bioavailability inhibition for Fe and Zn in human nutrition.     

Application of common wheat bran for the industrial production of high‐fibre pasta

The study was conducted on the effect of the addition of common wheat bran on the chemical composition, physical properties, cooking quality and sensory traits of durum wheat pasta. The pasta was produced on an industrial scale, applying an addition of common wheat bran at doses ranging from 20 to 40%. The products obtained were compared to the pasta from whole‐grain durum wheat flour, produced under identical conditions and with commercially available whole‐grain durum wheat pasta. The increase in the content of wheat bran in the pasta caused a significant increase (Duncan test, P ≤ 0.05) of the content of protein, lipids, ash and total dietary fibre (TDF). The application of 25–30% addition of common wheat bran allowed obtaining the products which are as rich in dietary fibre as the pasta prepared at the same technological parameters from whole‐grain durum flour. The pasta containing up to 30% of bran was characterised with lower losses of dry mass and higher resistance to overcooking, in comparison with the pasta made of whole‐grain durum. Simultaneously, the products had very good sensory quality.     

Insecticidal effect of spinetoram against six major stored grain insect species

Spinetoram is a novel insecticide that belongs to the spinosyn class of insecticidal chemicals. The efficacy of spinetoram against numerous insect pest species in a variety of field crops has been well demonstrated. However, there are no data available for the effectiveness of spinetoram against stored grain insects. In the present study, we evaluated spinetoram as a grain protectant, against six stored-product Coleoptera. The species tested were: the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus, the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum, the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius and the sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis. All species were tested at the adult stage, on wheat (or maize in the case of P. truncatus) treated to achieve spinetoram concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 ppm. Mortality was recorded after 1, 2, 7, 14 and 21 d of exposure, and 65 d later the wheat and maize were examined for offspring emergence. Among the species examined, P. truncatus and R. dominica were by far the most susceptible, given that mortality was close to 100% after 7 d on wheat treated or maize with 0.1 ppm of spinetoram. At this concentration, progeny production of P. truncatus and R. dominica was negligible. On the other hand, T. confusum was the least susceptible; mortality reached 95% only at 10 ppm, and only after 14 d of exposure. Similarly, O. surinamensis was of limited susceptibility to spinetoram; mortality reached 95% only after 14 d of exposure on wheat treated with 5 ppm. Nevertheless, offspring emergence of these species was extremely low. For S. granarius and S. oryzae, complete (100%) mortality was recorded after 14 d of exposure, at 0.5 and 1 ppm, respectively. At these concentrations or higher, progeny production was notably reduced. The results of the present study demonstrate that spinetoram is effective as a grain protectant, but its efficacy varies according to the target species, concentration and exposure interval.     

基于BP神经网络的仓储小麦的生理生化指标预测

BP神经网络算法在粮食仓储领域拥有巨大的应用价值和潜力。本研究尝试将BP神经网络引入仓储小麦品质预警模型,以天津储粮抽检数据为对象,通过对室内温度的记录,样品水分、淀粉、蛋白质等11项生理生化指标的定期检测,利用BP神经网络算法进行仓储小麦的品质预测与影响分析。仿真结果表明,基于BP神经网络的数据预测方法具有较小的过程误差和较高的结果准确性,为仓储小麦的品质预测提供了一种有效的研究方法。     

Molecular techniques for the detection of granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius L.) in wheat and flour

The granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius L.) is a stored grain pest that causes major economic losses. It reduces the quantity and quality of the grain by its feeding and excretion. Sequences of S. granarius mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunits genes mtCOI and mtCOII were analysed and compared with mtCOI/II sequences available in GenBank. The analysed genes displayed a high level of homology between corresponding subunits. Attempts were undertaken to develop detection methods for contamination by S. granarius in wheat and wheat flour based on the molecular biology techniques: standard and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a TaqMan molecular probe. (TaqMan probes are dual-labelled hydrolysis probes) Specific primers designed based on available sequences for mtCOI and mtCOII genes were applied and optimal reaction conditions established. The specificity of both methods was studied by using a species closely related to S. granarius: S. oryzae and S. zeamais. It is shown that the sensitivity threshold was very high - we were able to detect the equivalent of one beetle per 100 kg of flour when the real-time PCR with TaqMan probe method was applied to model samples. The primer sets used turned out to be species specific, and the technique was rapid, reliable and very sensitive.