Journal of Stored Products Research

Synergistic effects of insect-resistant

maize and Teretrius nigrescens on
the reduction of grain losses caused
by Prostephanus truncatus (Horn.)
D.J. Bergvinson, S. Garcia-Lara

Represented by
Syeda Rubab Z. Rizvi

Contents
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results and Discussion
4. Conclusion
5. References

Introduction
Prostephanus truncatus The
bad guy:
Larger grain borer; storage pest
Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera;
Bostrichidae
Native to Mesoamerica
Hosts: Maize and Cassava
Cause of 10 45% maize losses in
Africa

Introduction
Prostephanus truncatus
The bad guy:
Successful pest due to its
35 weeks longevity
high flight activity
reproduction under versatile
conditions
tolerance to insecticides
(Pyrethroids or inert dusts)

Introduction
Prostephanus truncatus The bad guy:
Control measures against the pest attack:
a. Chemical: applying mixture of Silica and Abamectin
b. Host plant resistance: use of resistant cultivars
Mechanical fortification: strengthening of pericarp cellwalls
Antibiosis: toxic compounds in endosperm layer

c. Biological: parasitoid Teretrius nigrescens

Introduction
Teretrius nigrescens The good
guy:
Natural enemy of P. truncatus
Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera;
Histeridae
Strong preference for adults and
larva of P. truncatus
Higher fecundity rate than P.
truncatus

Introduction
Aim of Research
To investigate the potential of Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) against Prostephanus truncatus
using both
insect resistant maize plants
Teretrius nigrescens

Materials and Methods

1. Maize genotypes:
Source: CIMMYT, Mexico
Two maize varieties
selected:

Resistant variety (P84c3)

Susceptible variety
(CML244 x CML349 hybrid)

After harvest, stored at

4oC to
Prevent pest damage
Conserve seed quality

Materials and Methods

2. Insect pest culture:
Source: CIMMYT, Mexico
In a 0.5 L glass jar, added

400g equilibrated maize

10g maize frass
250 unsexed adults of P.
truncatus

After 6 8 weeks:
Progeny was
collected
Adults obtained by
sieving > 50 %
damaged grain

Materials and Methods

3. Insect predator
culture:
Source: Maize storage
facilities, Mexico
In a 0.5 L glass jar, added

400g equilibrated maize

200 unsexed and unaged
adults of P. truncatus

After 2 weeks:
Added 20 unsexed
and unaged adults
of T. nigrescens
Then removed 2
weeks later

Materials and Methods

4. Insect population dynamics and susceptability
parameters:
Exp. 1

Susceptible maize
+
P. truncatus (100
unsexed adults)

Exp. 2

Exp. 3

Exp. 4

Resistant maize
+
P. truncatus (100
unsexed adults)

Susceptible maize
+
P. truncatus (100
unsexed adults)
+
T. nigrescens (30
unsexed adults)

Resistant maize
+
P. truncatus (100
unsexed adults)
+
T. nigrescens (30
unsexed adults)

Materials and Methods

4. Insect population dynamics and susceptability
parameters:
Kept for 28 weeks
Monthly separation via mesh sieves, of

Maize grain for grain weight loss calculation

Frass for frass production
P. truncatus adults for counting no.
T. nigrescens adults for counting no.

At the end, all P. truncatus and T. nigrescens adults were counted

and weighed

Materials and Methods

5. Statistical Analysis:
ANOVA model used
Analysis of variance using Statistix v.7
Comparison of differences among means via Tukey-Kramer
HSD test at P<0.01

Results and Discussion

1. Effect of insect resistant maize and the predator, T.
nigrescens on grain lossess, frass production and
insect population dynamics:
Maize
genotype

T.
nigrescens
presence

Grain
weight
Loss
%

Frass
Production
%

P.
truncatus
no./kg
grain

Suceptible

No

90.7

68.5

4661

Resistant

No

62.9

45.9

2720

Susceptible

Yes

41.9

35.2

1095

Resistant

Yes

11.7

11.1

527

Results and Discussion

Results and Discussion

Results and Discussion

1. Effect of insect resistant maize and the predator, T.
nigrescens on grain lossess, frass production and
insect
population dynamics:
Susceptible maize and
Resistant maize and Parasitoid
Parasitoid
T. nigrescens = 205 no./kg grain

T. nigrescens = 112 no./kg grain

T. nigrescens adult = 22 % more

heavier

T. nigrescens adult = 22 % less

heavier

Prey : Predator = 5.4 : 1

Prey : Predator = 4.6 : 1

Results and Discussion

2. Interaction among resistance maize, predator and
pest infestation:
Significant effect of following on P. truncatus progeny
Maize genotype
T. nigrescens
Time of infestation

T. nigrescens prefers small P. truncatus population

Both resistant maize + predator required

Results and Discussion

Resistant maize different phenolic compounds and proteins
Increase insect development time
Predator suppresses population better

Conclusion
Combination of resistant maize and T. nigrescens higly
effective
IPM (host plant resistant + biocontrol) critical process
Conditions must not affect predator

Laboratory scale results only

Long term storage experiments required on large scale

References
1. http://
old.padil.gov.au/pbt/index.php?q=node/20&pbtID=1
83
2. http://
www.schaedlingskunde.de/Steckbriefe/htm_Seiten/Gr
osser-Kornbohrer-Prostephanus-truncatus.htm
3. http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/eafrinet/maize
_pests/key/maize_pests/Media/Html/Prostephanus_trun
catus_Horn_-_Larger_Grain_Borer_(LGB).
htm
4. http://www.infonet-biovision.org/default/images/91/p

Thank you for your

patience