Hermetic storage of wheat and maize flour protects against red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum Herbst)

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 26;12(9):e0185386. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185386. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Hermetic storage is used to protect grain against insect pests, but its utility is not limited to whole grains. We evaluated hermetically-sealed, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles for preserving wheat and maize flour against red flour beetle (RFB, Tribolium castaneum, Herbst) population growth. Flours infested with RFB and kept in sealed PET bottles experienced much less weight loss over a three-month storage period than infested flour kept in unsealed bottles. RFB populations in wheat flour kept in sealed bottles did not increase, while populations in unsealed bottles grew about 50-fold during the same three-month period. Flour in sealed bottles had lower levels of oxygen and moisture than flour stored in unsealed bottles. Similar trends were observed for oxygen and moisture levels in maize flour held in hermetically sealed bottles. Hermetically-sealed bottles were effective in preventing RFB population growth and preserving maize and wheat flour. Farmers, consumers and food processors can safely store grain flour in hermetic sealed containers.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Food Storage*
  • Tribolium / growth & development*
  • Triticum*
  • Water
  • Zea mays*

Substances

  • Water

Grants and funding

This study was supported by funds from the PICS3 Project (Grant number 43010000 8000061439- by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to Purdue University). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.