Antixenosis of different maize genotypes in storage affects feeding preferences and oviposition of Sitophilus zeamais Moth

Rodrigues Agostinho Marcos; Filipe Garcia Holtz; Moisés Moura de Oliveira Ramos; Josimar Aleixo da Silva; Maria Lúcia Ferreira Simeone; Hugo Bolsoni Zago; Fábio Luiz De Oliveira; Leandro Pin Dalvi

doi:10.17268/sci.agropecu.2025.031

Authors

Rodrigues Agostinho Marcos Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique, Northeast Zonal Center, Nampula, Mozambique. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6680-9679
Filipe Garcia Holtz Federal University of Espírito Santo. Alegre Campus, ES, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9669-0189
Moisés Moura de Oliveira Ramos Federal University of Espírito Santo. Alegre Campus, ES, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5179-4188
Josimar Aleixo da Silva Federal University of Espírito Santo. Alegre Campus, ES, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6921-6043
Maria Lúcia Ferreira Simeone Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2003-0341
Hugo Bolsoni Zago Federal University of Espírito Santo. Alegre Campus, ES, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1975-3590
Fábio Luiz De Oliveira Federal University of Espírito Santo. Alegre Campus, ES, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1711-6988
Leandro Pin Dalvi Federal University of Espírito Santo. Alegre Campus, ES, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2995-8007

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17268/sci.agropecu.2025.031

Keywords:

antixenosis, maize, post-harvest, Sitophilus zeamais

Abstract

During corn storage, significant losses occur due to pest attacks, especially the weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. This study aimed to evaluate the feeding preference of Sitophilus zeamais on seeds of stored corn genotypes. The tests were carried out in the laboratory of the Center for Scientific and Technological Development in Pest and Disease Management (NUDEMAFI) at the Center for Agricultural Sciences and Engineering of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES) in Alegre, in an air-conditioned room with a maximum temperature of 26.4 and a minimum of 26.2 ºC (± 2 ºC) and humidity between 70% and 75%. A host preference test with free choice was performed on insects from Nudemafi breeding, aged 5 to 10 days, in six (6) arenas with six (6) replicates using a completely randomized design (CRD). After 96 hours, the following were evaluated for each genotype: number of insects attracted, insect weight, number of infested seeds, percentage of seed loss, and 60 days after infestation, the percentage of emerged insects, physical and bromatological composition were determined. The results showed significant differences in the preference of Sitophilus zeamais adults in relation to the maize genotypes analyzed; the lowest food preference was observed in the Purple genotype (4.1%), followed by AG1051, which obtained 8.3% respectively. The genotypes presented antixenosis due to the effect of the nutritional properties and physical hardness of the seed.

References

Antunes, L. E., Viebrantz, P. C, Gottardi, R., & Dionello, R. G. (2011). Características físico-químicas de grãos de milho atacados por Sitophilus zeamais durante o armazenamento. Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental, 15, 615-620. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-43662011000600012

Alves, L. S., & Poltronieri, A. S. (2024). Resistência de três genótipos de milho ao ataque de Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1885 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) em laboratório. Research, Society and Development, 13(5), e129135454864. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v13i5.45864

Arnason, J. T., Baum, B., Gale, J., Lambert, J. D. H., Bergvinson, D., Philogene, B. J. R., & Jewell, D. C. (1993). Variation in resistance of Mexican landraces of maize to maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais, in relation to taxonomic and biochemical parameters. Euphytica, 74. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00040405

Boiça JR, A. L., Lara, F. M., & Guidi, F. P (1997). Resistance of corn genotypes to attack by Sitophilus zeamais Mots. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of Brazil, 26, 481-485. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0301-80591997000300010

Burgos-Díaz, J. A., Rangel-Fajardo, M. A., Tucuch-Haas, J. I., Benítez-Riquelme, I., & García-Zavala, J. J. (2020). Susceptibility of native maize populations and preference of the weevil in Yucatán, México. Revista mexicana de ciencias agrícolas, 11(7), 1469-1479. https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v11i7.2081

Brasil. (2009). Rules for seed analysis. Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply. Secretariat of Agricultural Defense. Brasília, DF: Mapa, 395p. https://www.gov.br/agricultura/pt-br/assuntos/insumos-agropecuarios/arquivos-publicacoes-insumos/2946_regras_analise__sementes.pdf

Conceição, E. D. R. S., de Souza David, A. M. S., Paraizo, E. A., Soares, L. M., Figueiredo, J. C., Alvarenga, C. D., ... & da Silva, J. P. M. (2024). Quality of corn seeds infested with Sitophilus zeamais after application of plant extracts and diatomaceous earth. Caderno Pedagógico, 21(13), e11587-e11587. https://doi.org/10.54033/cadpedv21n13-102

Compton, J. A., Floyd, S., Ofosu, A., & Agbo, B. (1998). The modified count and weigh method: An improved procedure for assessing weight loss in stored maize cobs. Journal of Stored Products Research, 34(4), 277-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-474X(98)00009-5

Cruz, I. Cruz, J. C., Karam, D., Monteiro, M. A. R., & Magalhaes, P. C. (2008). A cultura do milho. Sete Lagoas: Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, 2008. cap. 12, p. 303-362.

Fazolin, M., da Costa, C. R., Damaceno, J. E., de Albuquerque, E. S., Cavalcante, A. S. da S., Estrela, J. L. V. (2010). Fumigation of maize for weevil control using Tanaecium nocturnum (Bignoniaceae). Pesq. agropec. bras., 45(1). https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2010000100001

Frazão, C. A. V., Silva, P. R. R., Almeida; W. A. de., Pontual, E. V., Cruz, G. dos S., Napoleão, T. H., & França, S. M. de. (2018). Resistance of maize cultivars to Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Arquivos do Instituto Biológico, 85, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-1657000552017

Fernandes, G. B. (2022). Dynamic conservation of maize landraces by family farmers in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Agrociencia Uruguay, 26(NSPE3), e959. https://doi.org/10.31285/agro.26.959

Gallo, D., Nakano, O. N., Silveira Neto, S., Carvalho, R. P. L. C., Batista, G. C. D., Berti Filho, E., Parra, J. R. P., & Zuchi, R. A. (2002). Entomologia agrícola. Piracicaba; FEALQ. p. 839-840.

García-Lara, S., Espinosa Carrillo, C., & Bergvinson, D.J. (2007). Manual de Plagas en Granos Almacenado y Tecnologías Alternas para su Manejo y Control; CIMMYT: El Batán, Mexico.

Guzzo, E. C., Alves, L. F. A., Zanin, A., & Vendramin, J. D. (2002). Identification of corn materials resistant to attack by the weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Mots., 1855) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Archives of the Biological Institute, 69(2), 69-73. https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-1657v69n2p0692002

Hogenhout, S. A., & Bos, J. I. (2011). Effector proteins that modulate plant–insect interactions. Current opinion in plant biology, 14(4), 422-428.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2011.05.003

Kim, S. K., & Kossou, D. K. (2003). Genetic responses of resistant maize germplasm to the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky in West Africa. J. Prod. Stored Res., 39, 489–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-474X(02)00056-5

Maggioni, K., Silva, L. B., Xavier, Z. F., de Bortoli Munhae, C., Dourado, L. R. B., & Pavan, B. E. (2016). Performance of populations of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on different varieties of maize. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 11(10), 873-881. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2015.10505

Muzemu, S., Chitamba, J., & Goto, S. (2013). Screening of stored maize (Zea mays L.) varieties grain for tolerance against maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.). International Journal of Plant Research, 3(3), 17-22. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.plant.20130303.01

Nwosu, L. C. (2016). Chemical bases for maize grain resistance to infestation and damage by the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. Journal of Stored Products Research, 69, 41-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2016.06.001

Pacheco, F. P. F. (2009). Storage proteins and preference of Sitophilus sp. for local and improved rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties grown under different soil management conditions. Dissertação Mestrado em Agroecologia. Universidade Estadual do Maranhão.

Panizzi, A. R., & Parra, J. R. P. (2009). Bioecology and nutrition of insects: basis for integrated pest management. Brasília/DF: Embrapa information technology. 164 p.

Puzzi, D. (1986). Grain supply and storage. São Paulo: Campineiro Institute of Agricultural Education.

R Core Team (2021). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. https://www.R-project.org/. https://doi.org/10.59350/t79xt-tf203

Rodríguez, A., Beato, M., Usseglio, V. L, Camina, J., Zygadlo, J. A., Dambolena, J. S, & Zunino, M. P (2022). Phenolic compounds as controllers of Sitophilus zeamais: A look at the structure-activity relationship. Journal of Stored Products Research, 99, 102038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2022.102038

Rossetto, C. J. (1972). Resistance of corn to ear pests, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky and Sitotroga cerealela (Oliver). 111f. Thesis (Doctorate in Agronomy) - Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba.

Simeone, M. L. F., Pimentel, M. A. G., Queiroz, V. A. V., Santos, F., Brito, A., Aquino, L. F. M., ... & Trindade, R. D. S. (2024). Portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and multivariate calibration for reliable quality control of maize and sorghum grain chemical composition. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 134, 106502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106502

Toscano, L. C., Boiça Jr, A. L., Lara, F. M., & Waquil, J. M. (1999). Resistance and mechanisms involved in corn genotypes in relation to attack by the weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Mots. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of Brazil, 28, 141-146. https://doi.org. 10.1590/S0301-80591999000100015

Usseglio, V. L., Dambolena, J. S., Merlo, C., Peschiutta, M. L., & Zunino, M. P. (2018). Insect-corn kernel interaction: chemical signaling of the grain and host recognition by Sitophilus zeamais. Journal of stored products research, 79, 66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2018.08.002

Zhang, Y., Teng, B., Wang, D., & Jiang, J. (2021). Discovery of a specific volatile substance from rice grain and its application in controlling stored-grain pests. Food Chemistry, 339, 128014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128014