Insect-damaged kernels

Insect-damaged kernels will lose 25%-60% of their weight and nutrients. Insects leave important contaminants such as bodily parts, cocoons, feces, and eggs. The presence of these contaminants is highly penalized by government agencies because they are closely related to the grain sanitary quality (Anonymous 1992). 

It has been reported that the aflatoxin content of insect-damaged peanuts is considerably higher than contaminated undamaged peanuts (l. ). The lesser cornstalk borer, which is the most important soil insect responsible for peanut kernel damage, favors hot, dry environmental conditions similar to those favored by A. flavus. In addition, insecticide applications must be wetted into the soil to be effective. Thus, insect treatments during drought periods are largely ineffective. 

A. flavus invasion and aflatoxin development can occur in the absence of insect damage, results suggest that sound almond kernels are relatively free of aflatoxin contamination. However, surveys over a three-year period established that aflatoxin may occur in tree nuts, such as almond, throughout the growing area and that only a relatively few kernels in a large population were contaminated W ... 

Cereals have low confenfs of essential amino acids, particularly lysine and tryptophan. In developing countries especially, this creates nutritional deficiencies for a large proportion of the population because a single cereal may account for a major part of the protein intake. In some countries (Central and South America and sub-Saharan Africa), people rely on maize as their principal food. In order to counter the problem, high-lysine mutants of maize have been identified. However, these mutants are associated with negative effects on yield and they have soft, chalky kernels that are susceptible to disease and insect damage. 

Singh, C.B. et al (2010) Identification of insect-damaged wheat kernels using short-wave near-infrared hyperspectral and digital colour imaging. Comput Electron. Agric., 73 (2), 118-125. 

Singh CB, Jayas DS, Paliwal J, White NDG. Detection of insect-damaged wheat kernels using near-infrared hyperspectral imaging. J Stored Prod Res 2009 45 151-8. 

How can you identify frost-, insect-, mold-, or sprout-damaged kernels ... 

This is one of the most impotant measurements for grading. Test weight is important because is closely related to the kernel condition. Insect, mold, and heat damaged kernels have lower test weight than sound or healthy kernels. 

Secondary insect Kind of insect that attacks damaged kernels or nulled and processed products but is not capable of damaging sound grains. 

Dowd, P. F. (2000). Dusky sap beetles (Coleoptera Nitidulidae) and other kernel damaging insects in Bt and non-Bt sweet com in Illinois../. Econ. Entomol., 93, 1714-1720. 

Venkatrao, S., Nuggehalli, R.N., Pingale, S.V., Swaminathan, M., and Subrahmanyan, V. 1957. The relation between the uric acid content and the extent of kernel damage in insect infested grain. 

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