Investigation of insect population density, species composition and associated losses in chickpea seeds stored on farms in Ethiopia

Muez Berhe; Bhadriraju Subramanyam; Girma Demissie; Mekasha Chichaybelu; Fetien Abay Abera; Rizana Mahroof; Jagger Harvey

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17826

Investigation of insect population density, species composition and associated losses in chickpea seeds stored on farms in Ethiopia

Heliyon. 2023 Jun 29;9(7):e17826. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17826. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Authors

Muez Berhe^{1

2}, Bhadriraju Subramanyam³, Girma Demissie⁴, Mekasha Chichaybelu⁵, Fetien Abay Abera^{2

6}, Rizana Mahroof⁷, Jagger Harvey⁸

Affiliations

¹ Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Humera Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 62, Tigray, Ethiopia.
² Department of Dryland Crop and Horticultural Sciences, College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
⁴ Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holeta Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁵ Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre-Zeyt Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁶ University of California Davis Department of Plant Sciences, MS/11 Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
⁷ Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC, 29117, USA.
⁸ Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Reduction of Post-Harvest Loss, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.

Abstract

This survey aimed to investigate the extent of insect infestations, associated losses, and insect species abundance in farm-stored chickpea seeds across five chickpea growing districts in Ethiopia. Despite being the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of chickpea in Africa, insect pest infestations have caused significant losses to Ethiopia's chickpea industry. Results showed that Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) was the most prevalent insect species, followed by Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium confusum (J. du Val). The insect pests infested both local and improved chickpea varieties, and traditional containers and polypropylene bags were used for storage. The percentage of insect-damaged seed ranged from 4.61% to 14.48%, while the seed weight loss ranging from 1.13% to 4.55%. The range of seed germination percentages was from 65% to 88%, with a mean rate of 71%. These losses significantly affect the market value of the crop as grain and its use as seed, affecting farmers' income and food security. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective solutions to prevent the loss of farm-stored chickpea in Ethiopia.

Keywords: Chickpea; Population density; Post-harvest loss; Species composition; Storage pests.