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Impact of Moisture Content of Different Seed Spices on Damage Caused by

Cigarette Beetle, Lasioderma serricorne F.

Article  in  Indian Journal of Ecology · September 2020

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 Manuscript Number: 3102
Indian Journal of Ecology (2020) 47(3): 878-880 NAAS Rating: 4.96

Impact of Moisture Content of Different Seed Spices on

Damage Caused by Cigarette Beetle, Lasioderma serricorne F.

1
N.J. Chaudhari, C.M. Muralidharan and Manishkumar J. Joshi*
Department of Entomology, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, BK-385 506, India
1
Date palm Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Mundra, Kachchh-370 421, India
*E-mail: mj1107006@gmail.com

Abstract: Cigarettes beetle, Lasioderma serricorne F. is a serious pest of many stored goods causing major economic losses to stored goods.
Effect of moisture content on the weight loss of seed spices due to L. serricorne has been done in laboratory. The association of initial moisture
and wt. loss was highest in fenugreek (r = 0.87) and it was lowest in coriander (r = 0.67). A significant positive association between final
moisture and wt. loss was observed in all seed spices and it was maximum in ajwain (r = 0.91) followed by fennel and cumin (r = 0.90),
coriander and fenugreek (r = 0.88). The initial and final moisture content of the seed spices established a significantly positive correlation with
weight loss due to L. serricorne indicating moisture plays a key role in storage.

Keywords: Lasioderma serricorne, Survey, Storage losses, Gujarat, Seed spices

In India, the varying climatic conditions provide ample
scope for spice cultivation. Nearly all Indian States produce
spices; the total area under cultivation is approximately 3.15
million hectares (IBEF 2018). The major seed spices
producing states are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat,
Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and
Orissa. However, Rajasthan and Gujarat are the major seed
spices growing states of our country contributing more than 80
per cent of seed spice production in India (Singh and Solanki
2014). Out of the 20 seed spices grown in our country, the most
important spices of north Gujarat are coriander (Coriandrum
sativum L.), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), fennel
(Foeniculum vulgare l.), fenugreek (Tigonella foenumgraecum
L.), carom (Trachspermum ammi L.) and chilli (Capsicum
annum L). Most of the seed spices grown in India are quite
susceptible to various insect and diseases which results a high
loss of up to 90 per cent (Dahiya and Sehgal 2013). Storage
insects cause major losses to farmers as well as traders.
Insect infestation on stored spices is a serious problem
throughout the world. There are approximately 20 species of
insects attacking stored spices (Kumar et al 2014), such as red
flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), cigarette beetle
(Lasioderma serricorne), spider beetle (Ptinus tectus),
confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum), khapra beetle
(Trogoderma granarium) and drug store beetle (Stegobium
paniceum). Among these, cigarettes beetle, L. Serricorne is a
serious pest of many stored goods and belongs to the order
Coleoptera and family Anobiidae. Across tropical and
subtropical regions, the cigarette beetle L. serricorne is found
worldwide, causing major economic losses to stored goods
(Rees 2004). Maximum damage to stored goods is done by
cigarette beetle larval feeding, while adults do harm by letting
holes penetrate or escape packed commodities. Besides the
harm done by feeding, the presence of dead insects, casting
skin residues from various stages of larval life, pupal cases
and fras are pollutants in spices and make them unfit for
consumption. Moisture is one of the critical factors in safe
storage of grains and seeds. Generally higher moisture of the
commodity favours the development of storage insects.
Current investigation was therefore undertaken to investigate
the effect of moisture content on the weight loss of seed spices
due to Lasioderma serricorne F.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The samples collected during survey in different villages
were brought to laboratory at S.D. Agricultural University,
Sardarkrushinagar and 250g of each seed spices viz., cumin,
fennel, coriander, carom and fenugreek were properly
labeled and kept in 500g capacity plastic bottle under
o
laboratory (30±2 C). The moisture percentage of each seed
sample was calculated using oven dry method before
keeping in the plastic jar. Moisture per cent of the seed spices
before the experiment and at monthly interval was estimated
using oven dry method at 105oC for 20-25 minutes. The
samples were observed periodically for weight loss and
insect damage. The weight loss (%) was assessed monthly
using the method proposed by Tiongson (1992) and
computed using the following formula.
M1-M2 x100
Weight loss =
M1
Where, M1 = initial weight, M2 = grain weight after
damage
 Damage Caused by Cigarette Beetle on Seed of Spices 879

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Moisture is one of the critical factors in safe storage of
grains and seeds. Generally higher moisture of the
commodity favors the development of storage insects. The
moisture per cent has a significantly positive correlation with
weight loss in all the seeds spices under study. In fenugreek
the weight loss due to infestation recorded only in samples
having initial moisture per cent i.e. 8.61-10.0%. The highest
weight loss of 2.97% was in sample having moisture per cent
of 9.75 followed 2.93, where the moisture per cent of the
samples were 9.82. In cumin, the highest wt. loss of 33.13%
was in samples having 10.18% initial moisture and least
30.73 in 9.24% indicating that if the moisture per cent is more
than 10, resulted in higher weight loss. The lowest wt. loss of
10.47% was observed in samples having the moisture level of
7.87 %. In coriander, the maximum weight loss of 31.20%
was in samples having initial moisture level of 9% and the
lowest wt. loss of 13.50% in samples having moisture of
7.95%. Highest weight loss of 37.33% was in sample having
an initial moisture level of 10.85% in case of fennel and if
initial moisture level is more than 10%, led to a wt. loss of
more than 35% in fennel. In carom the initial moisture per cent
of the samples varied from 7.50 to 8.54% and the wt. loss due
to L. serricorne infestation ranged from 11.40 to 24.73%. In
coriander, final moisture level has greatly influenced (r = 0.88)
the weight loss, as initial moisture has lower regression value
(r = 0.67). Compare to initial moisture per cent, the final
moisture per cent has highly associated with wt. loss as
regression values varied 0.88 (Fenugreek and coriander) to
0.90 (Cumin and fennel) to a highest of 0.91 in case of ajwain
(Table 3). Dahiya and Sehgal (2013) observed L. serricorne
infested coriander even at a low moisture per cent of 7.97 and
reported highly significant positive correlation between
moisture and infestation in all spices under study.

Table 1. Correlation coefficient between initial moisture per cent and weight loss
Sr. No. Fenugreek Cumin Coriander Fennel Carom

Moisture % Loss % Moisture % Loss % Moisture % Loss % Moisture % Loss % Moisture % Loss %

1. 9.75 2.97 8.00 18.27 8.14 21.83 9.00 27.13 8.24 16.90

2. 8.20 0.00 8.68 19.07 9.45 23.67 9.35 28.53 7.78 18.53

3. 9.25 2.13 9.02 28.40 9.12 27.27 9.85 32.27 7.92 21.90

4. 9.82 2.93 10.00 31.20 8.87 28.87 10.00 24.67 8.00 23.83

5. 8.00 0.00 9.65 28.73 8.26 25.47 10.50 36.30 7.95 20.20

6. 8.45 0.00 10.18 33.13 8.32 28.30 10.85 37.33 8.36 24.03

7. 8.88 0.00 10.00 25.67 9.28 25.87 10.98 29.00 8.04 21.30

8. 8.84 0.00 8.85 17.10 8.92 21.57 8.68 16.80 7.68 13.23

9. 7.68 0.00 9.48 30.47 9.00 26.40 10.58 34.50 8.12 22.00

10. 9.35 2.83 8.28 20.40 9.16 25.03 9.96 26.63 8.00 17.27

11. 7.95 0.00 8.74 21.87 8.00 19.77 8.45 24.50 7.50 14.80

12. 10.00 2.50 7.87 10.47 7.95 13.50 8.28 11.50 7.50 11.40

13. 7.05 0.00 9.63 28.00 10.32 28.63 10.38 32.43 8.42 24.13

14. 7.38 0.00 9.24 30.73 10.00 29.50 10.00 35.67 8.20 23.50

15. 9.62 2.73 8.92 21.00 8.45 21.87 8.15 13.45 7.84 15.40

16. 9.98 2.77 9.46 32.17 9.00 31.20 9.72 37.10 8.00 24.73

17. 8.10 0.00 9.30 19.20 8.00 18.87 8.62 24.10 7.80 13.77

18. 7.86 0.00 10.00 28.20 9.62 26.67 8.00 8.03 8.54 22.23

19. 8.34 0.00 7.84 17.10 8.67 23.90 8.32 17.07 7.56 14.73

20. 7.72 0.00 8.98 17.13 8.24 17.50 8.64 17.13 7.50 12.73

Average 8.61 0.94 9.10 23.91 8.83 24.28 9.41 25.70 7.94 18.83

t value 7.69* 5.81* 3.83* 6.80* 5.38*

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880 N.J. Chaudhari, C.M. Muralidharan and Manishkumar J. Joshi

Table 2. Correlation coefficient between final moisture per cent and weight loss
Sr. No. Fenugreek Cumin Coriander Fennel Carom

Moisture % Loss % Moisture % Loss % Moisture % Loss % Moisture % Loss % Moisture % Loss %

1. 10.50 2.97 12.20 18.27 12.72 21.83 13.22 27.13 12.16 16.90
2. 8.50 0.00 12.54 19.07 13.00 23.67 13.48 28.53 12.75 18.53
3. 9.85 2.13 13.38 28.40 13.72 27.27 14.05 32.27 13.04 21.90
4. 10.15 2.93 13.67 31.20 13.54 28.87 13.87 24.67 13.00 23.83
5. 8.25 0.00 12.84 28.73 13.24 25.47 15.00 36.30 12.70 20.20
6. 8.85 0.00 14.48 33.13 13.72 28.30 14.38 37.33 13.18 24.03
7. 9.15 0.00 13.74 25.67 13.48 25.87 13.92 29.00 12.86 21.30
8. 9.00 0.00 12.88 17.10 12.86 21.57 12.68 16.80 11.55 13.23
9. 7.92 0.00 13.72 30.47 12.92 26.40 14.08 34.50 12.2 22.00
10. 9.58 2.83 13.00 20.40 13.34 25.03 14.00 26.63 12.72 17.27
11. 8.00 0.00 13.58 21.87 12.82 19.77 13.98 24.50 11.78 14.80
12. 10.22 2.50 10.82 10.47 11.00 13.50 11.08 11.50 11.72 11.40
13. 7.15 0.00 14.00 28.00 13.46 28.63 14.47 32.43 13.00 24.13
14. 7.55 0.00 13.94 30.73 13.94 29.50 14.33 35.67 13.35 23.50
15. 9.80 2.73 13.18 21.00 13.00 21.87 12.12 13.45 12.00 15.40
16. 10.25 2.77 13.76 32.17 13.24 31.20 15.00 37.10 12.95 24.73
17. 8.15 0.00 12.82 19.20 12.64 18.87 14.75 24.10 11.46 13.77
18. 7.95 0.00 13.56 28.20 13.56 26.67 11.08 8.03 12.92 22.23
19. 8.55 0.00 12.64 17.10 13.00 23.90 12.55 17.07 12.00 14.73
20. 7.84 0.00 12.46 17.13 11.33 17.50 12.87 17.13 11.22 12.73
Average 8.86 0.94 13.16 23.91 13.03 24.28 13.54 25.70 12.42 18.83
t value 7.72* 8.46* 6.27* 14.27* 9.28*

Table 3. Correlation between weight loss (%) and moisture per cent on different spices after one year of storage
Seeds of spices Moisture (%) Weight loss (%) Cal. “r” value

Initial Final Initial Final

Fenugreek 8.61 8.86 0.94 0.87* 0.88*

Cumin 9.10 13.16 23.91 0.80* 0.90*
Coriander 8.83 13.03 24.28 0.67* 0.88*
Fennel 9.41 13.54 25.70 0.85* 0.90*
Ajwain 7.94 12.42 18.83 0.78* 0.91*
*Significant at 0.05 per cent (r = 0.38)

CONCLUSION storage practices on the basis of infestation in spices. Annals of

Highly positive association indicating moisture level of
seed spices viz., cumin, fennel, coriander, carom and
fenugreek having direct effect on wt. loss due to the
infestation of L. serricorne. The initial and final moisture
content of the seed spices established a significantly positive
correlation with weight loss due to L. serricorne indicating
moisture plays a key role in storage. The farmers and traders
intend to store seed spice has to take care of the moisture
level to avoid the wt. loss due to L. serricorne.
REFERENCES
Dahiya P and Sehgal B 2013. Comparative study between different
Biological Research 4(5): 16-22.
IBEF 2018. India Brand Equity Foundation. (https://www.teacoffeesp
iceofindia.com/ spice/spice-statistics)
Kumar SCM, Jacob TK, Jayashree E and Devasahayam S 2014.
Insect Pests of Stored Spices & Their Management, 17p.
Rees D 2004. Insects of Stored Products, CSIRO Publishing,
Collingwood, Australia.
Singh B and Solanki RK 2014. Status of research and development
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of seed spices in India. In: Proceeding of the 3 International
conference on Agriculture and Horticulture 2: 72.
Tiongson RL 1992. Standardized methods for the assessment of
losses due to insect pests in storage. In: Towards integrated
commodity and pest management in grain storage. A Training
Manual for application in humid tropical storage systems.
Edited by R.L. Semple, P.A. Hicks, J.V. Lozare, and A.
Castermans. A REGNET (RAS/86/189) Publication in
Collaboration with NAPHIRE, May, 1992.

Received 24 May, 2020; Accepted 26 August, 2020