Evaluation of Different Wheat Varieties for Resistance to Angoumois Grain Moth (<i>Sitotroga cerealella</i>, olivier)

One of the main post-harvest wheat pests is the Angoumois grain moth Sitotroga cerealella. Current study was conducted under laboratory conditions to investigate the biological characteristics of S. cerealella on a variety of local wheat cultivars in order to determine the progress. Keeping in view the store grain products and losses caused by Sitotroga cerealella, the present study was carried out to ascertain the most preferred wheat varieties. Data exhibited that the moth develops through egg, five larval instars, pupa and adult stages. The total life cycle of S. cerealella from egg to adult occupied 30 to 45 days and specifically life cycle period took place on Dilkash-20 male (43.71±4.34) and female (45.83±5.80), on the Hamal-13 male (33.77±3.39) and female (35.61±5.23), on the Akbar male (30.99±3.45) and female (33.87±4.67), on the Banazir-13 male (33.04±03.90) and female (37.95±5.82), on the TD-1 male (33.35±4.50) and female (36.78±4.23), on the TJ-83 male (34.20±4.17) and female (36.87±4.35), on the Sarsabaz male (31.84±3.46) and female (32.56±5.37), on the Bakhar male (30.22±4.79) and female (33.27±5.21), on the Sahar male (31.13±3.78) and female (34.13±6.87) and on the Abdul Sattar male (40.92±3.98) and female (42.92±7.12), respectively. Although, total maximum average number of egg laying was observed on the Abdul Sattar wheat variety (142.30±15.45), followed by Dilkash-20 (131.00±11.78), Sarsabaz (125.00±10.40), Banazir-13 (123.60±10.17), TJ-83 (113.20±13.65), Sahar (110.66±15.49), Hamal-13 (101.66±13.56), Akbar (99.30±7.05), TD-1 (92.10±11.37), and Bakhar (84.20±11.37), respectively. In addition, the highest grain damage (54.48%) was noted from the TD-1 (54.48%), followed by Abdul Sattar (53.38%), Bakhar (51.47%), Dilkash-20 (43.55%), Hamal-13 (39.63%), Sahar (38.72%), TJ-83 (37.720%), Akbar (36.10%), Sarsabaz (34.19%) and Banazir-13 (29.59%), respectively. Whereas, highest grain weight losses (31.35%) was found Abdul Sattar followed by Dilkash-20 (29.85%), Bakhar (25.69 %), TD-1 (24.26%), Sahar (23.51%), Sarsabaz (19.51%), TJ-83 (18.95%), Hamal-13 (18.53%), Banazir-13 (17.59) and Akbar (16.62%), and respectively. Taken together, based on the lowest grain damage and weight losses Banazir-13 and Akbar found resistant varieties and Sarsabaz, TJ-83, Hamal-13, and Sahar ranked as moderate resistant varieties, although Abdul Sattar, TD-1, Bakhar, and Dilkash-20 ranked as susceptible varieties, respectively.