Assessment of Tribolium castaneum-Induced Losses in Finger Millet Flour Quality

Abstract

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is a nutritionally rich cereal crop widely cultivated for its health benefits. However, stored grain pests such as the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) pose a significant threat to its quality and storage stability. An experiment was conducted at Agricultural College, Naira, during the summer of 2021–22 to assess the losses caused by T. castaneum in three different varieties of finger millet flour. The study revealed significant variations in weight loss and uric acid accumulation among the varieties. The highest mean weight loss (33.75%) and uric acid content (4.32 mg/100 g flour) were recorded in VR-520 (Suraj), indicating its higher susceptibility to T. castaneum infestation. This was followed by VR-708 (Champavathi), which exhibited 27.95% weight loss and 3.30 mg/100 g of uric acid. The least infestation was observed in VR-847 (Sri Chaitanya), with a comparatively lower weight loss (17.54%) and uric acid content (1.46 mg/100 g). These findings suggest that VR-847 (Sri Chaitanya) has greater resistance to T. castaneum, making it a preferable choice for prolonged storage. The study emphasizes the need for proper storage management and pest control strategies to minimize post-harvest losses and maintain the nutritional quality of finger millet flour.