Insecticidal action of the combined use of spinosad and deltamethrin against three storedproduct pests in two stored hard-wheat varieties.

The combined use of spinosad with deltamethrin against adults of Sitophilus oryzae, Sitophilus granarius and Tribolium confusum was evaluated in a series of laboratory bioassays in two hard wheat varieties (Athos and Sifnos). Two groups of bioassays were carried out. In the first group of bioassays, spinosad or deltamethrin were applied alone at the tested wheat varieties at the doses of 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 ppm for spinosad and 0.125 ppm for deltamethrin. In the second group of bioassays, the tested wheat varieties were treated with the combination of the above spinosad rates with 0.125 of deltamethrin. In both series of bioassays, mortality of the tested species was evaluated after 7 d of exposure on the treated wheat varieties at 25oC and 65% r.h. Mortality for all species was always significantly higher in Athos than Sifnos. The highest mortality of S. oryzae (73 and 40% for Athos and Sifnos respectively) or S. granarius (88% and 58% for Athos and Sifnos respectively) was recorded in the cases that spinosad was applied alone at 0.5 ppm. On the contrary, in the case of T. confusum, 0.125 ppm of deltamethrin was significantly more effective than any of the application rates of spinosad either when applied alone or in combination with deltamethrin. Despite the fact that the highest mortality of S. granarius adults was recorded after exposure on the wheat varieties treated with 0.1 ppm of spinosad x 0.125 ppm of deltamethrin, in light of the results of the present study, the combination of spinosad with deltmethrin requires further investigation since in most of the tested cases of the present study, single application of spinosad or deltamethrin was more effective or of equal effectiveness than the respective combination of spinosad with deltamethrin. Keywords: Spinosad, Deltamethrin, Tribolium, Sitophilus, Wheat, Variet

Mortality and suppression of progeny production of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in seven different grains treated with an enhanced diatomaceous earth formulation

DEBBM, an enhanced diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation consisting of a mixture of DE and the plant extract bitterbarkomycin, was applied to seven different grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale, paddy rice and maize) at two dose rates 50 ppm and 150 ppm. Unsexed, 7d old adults of Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) were exposed to the DEBBM treated commodities and their mortality was assessed after 7d and 14d of exposure at 25 oC and 65% r.h. Furthermore, progeny production of the tested species per treated commodity was also assessed. Sitophilus oryzae appeared to be more susceptible than T. confusum to DEBBM. Performance of DEBBM was better in barley, wheat and oats compared to the remainder of the tested commodities. DEBBM performed better in rye and triticale than in paddy rice against both species although in many cases, significant differences among these grains were not recorded. Despite that DEBBM reached its highest efficacy levels on barley, wheat, and oats it did not suppress progeny production of the treated species in any of the grains. A significant reduction in progeny production of the treated species was recorded in the DEBBM treated grains in comparison with the untreated ones. This reduction in progeny production was expressed more vigorously to S. oryzae rather than T. confusum. In commodities with high DEBBM performance such as barley, oats or wheat, > 9-fold less progeny of S. oryzae were recorded at 150 ppm of DEBBM than in the untreated commodities. Although significantly less progeny of T. confusum were recorded in DEBBM treated grains than untreated grains, progeny suppression of this species was neither dose nor commodity dependant. Keywords: Diatomaceous earth, Bitterbarkomycin, Tribolium, Sitophilus, Mortality, Commodit

Modelling Processes and Products in the Cereal Chain

[EN] In recent years, modelling techniques have become more frequently adopted in the field of food processing, especially for cereal-based products, which are among the most consumed foods in the world. Predictive models and simulations make it possible to explore new approaches and optimize proceedings, potentially helping companies reduce costs and limit carbon emissions. Nevertheless, as the different phases of the food processing chain are highly specialized, advances in modelling are often unknown outside of a single domain, and models rarely take into account more than one step. This paper introduces the first high-level overview of modelling techniques employed in different parts of the cereal supply chain, from farming to storage, from drying to milling, from processing to consumption. This review, issued from a networking project including researchers from over 30 different countries, aims at presenting the current state of the art in each domain, showing common trends and synergies, to finally suggest promising future venues for research.The authors would like to acknowledge networking and article processing charge support by COST Action CA15118 (Mathematical and Computer Science Methods for Food Science and Industry).Carvalho, O.; Charalambides, MN.; Djekic, I.; Athanassiou, C.; Bakalis, S.; Benedito Fort, JJ.; Briffaz, A.... (2021). Modelling Processes and Products in the Cereal Chain. Foods. 10(1):1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10010082S11810

Modelling Processes and Products in the Cereal Chain

ReviewIn recent years, modelling techniques have become more frequently adopted in the field of food processing, especially for cereal-based products, which are among the most consumed foods in the world. Predictive models and simulations make it possible to explore new approaches and optimize proceedings, potentially helping companies reduce costs and limit carbon emissions. Nevertheless, as the different phases of the food processing chain are highly specialized, advances in modelling are often unknown outside of a single domain, and models rarely take into account more than one step. This paper introduces the first high-level overview of modelling techniques employed in different parts of the cereal supply chain, from farming to storage, from drying to milling, from processing to consumption. This review, issued from a networking project including researchers from over 30 different countries, aims at presenting the current state of the art in each domain, showing common trends and synergies, to finally suggest promising future venues for researchinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Effects of Aphid Traits on Parasitoid Host Use and Specialist Advantage

Specialization is a central concept in ecology and one of the fundamental properties of parasitoids. Highly specialized parasitoids tend to be more efficient in host-use compared to generalized parasitoids, presumably owing to the trade-off between host range and hostuse efficiency. However, it remains unknown how parasitoid host specificity and host-use depends on host traits related to susceptibility to parasitoid attack. To address this question, we used data from a 13-year survey of interactions among 142 aphid and 75 parasitoid species in nine European countries. We found that only aphid traits related to local resource characteristics seem to influence the trade-off between host-range and efficiency: more specialized parasitoids had an apparent advantage (higher abundance on shared hosts) on aphids with sparse colonies, ant-attendance and without concealment, and this was more evident when host relatedness was included in calculation of parasitoid specificity. More traits influenced average assemblage specialization, which was highest in aphids that are monophagous, monoecious, large, highly mobile (easily drop from a plant), without myrmecophily, habitat specialists, inhabit non-agricultural habitats and have sparse colonies. Differences in aphid wax production did not influence parasitoid host specificity and host-use. Our study is the first step in identifying host traits important for aphid parasitoid host specificity and host-use and improves our understanding of bottom-up effects of aphid traits on aphid-parasitoid food web structure

A new species and a key to Greek Praon Haliday (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae)

The genus Praon Haliday in Greece consists of 6 species, the newly described R orpheusi included (Greece, Bulgaria). The new species emerged from the aphid Macrosiphum (Macrosiphum) rosae (Linnaeus) infecting Rosa sempervirens L. and Rosa caesia Sm. It is diagnosed and illustrated with photographs from the scanning electron microscope and line drawing. Furthermore, a key for the identification of species of Praon occurring in Greece is given, followed by photographs from the scanning electron microscope and line drawings. Finally, the parasitoid-aphid-plant associations of the Greek species mentioned in the key, some of which have also been found in Bulgaria and Turkey, are presented

Preventing stored-product insect infestations in packaged-food products

Purpose of review: The present review provides an overview of insect pest species associated with packaged-food products, potential mechanisms leading to infestation of packaged products, and strategies to prevent such infestation. Findings: There are two possible reasons that may explain the presence of insects in packaged products: (1) insects are present in the product before packaging, or (2) insects invaded the product after packaging from already existing openings or from insects creating an entry point. Control strategies include the correct identification of the species found in the packaged product, mechanical or thermal methods for eliminating infestations in raw and processed products, use of repellents or insecticides outside packages, and application of modified or controlled atmospheres inside packages. Directions for future research: Further research is required on the above topics focusing on all stages of food manufacture and distribution for successful prevention of insect presence in packaged products. © 2011 Stewart Postharvest Solutions (UK) Ltd