Author(s):

Reddy Shekar V, B Anil Kumar, A Padmasri and M Shanti

Abstract: The effect of modified atmosphere with elevated levels of CO₂ against Sitophilus oryzae was studied by directly exposing the S. oryzae adults to eight concentrations of CO₂ viz., 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 per cent with five exposure periods of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours to study the adult mortality. The results indicated that 80, 70 and 60 per cent CO₂ concentrations caused complete mortality of adults at two, six and seven days after treatment, respectively after exposing to five hours directly. At 40 and 50 per cent CO₂ concentrations, though some of the adults survived even after seven days, but they did not lay eggs and thus 40 per cent and above CO₂ concentrations were found to be fatal for the development of S. oryzae. And damage of S. oryzae by CO₂ was confirmed with scanning electron microscope.

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