Effect of Storage Technologies on Postharvest Insect Pest Control and Seed Germination in Mexican Maize Landraces

ODJO, SYLVANUS; BONGIANINO, NICOLAS; GONZÁLEZ REGALADO, JESSICA; CABRERA SOTO, MARÍA LUISA; PALACIOS-ROJAS, NATALIA; BURGUEÑO, JUAN; VERHULST, NELE

Insects

MDPI

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2022 vol. 13

Smallholder farmers who grow maize landraces face important challenges to preserve theirseed biodiversity from one season to another. This study was carried out in the central highlandsof Mexico to compare the effectiveness of two seed storage practices—specifically, polypropylenewoven bags (farmers’ conventional practice) vs. hermetic containers—for minimizing seed lossesand maintaining germination. Four Mexican landraces were stored for three and six months. Dataon moisture content and kernel damage were collected at the beginning and the end of the storageperiod. Pest-free samples collected were also analyzed for seed germination. Moisture contentwas below 13% overall and was not significantly affected by storage technology or storage time.Samples from the polypropylene woven bags suffered significant damage from Sitophilus zeamais and Prostephanus truncatus, with the percentages of insect damage and weight loss reaching 61.4% and 23.4%, respectively. Losses were minimal in seed stored in hermetic containers, with a maximum insect damage of 4.1% and weight loss of 2.2%. Overall, the germination rate of samples stored in these airtight containers was greater than 90%. This study provides additional evidence on the effectiveness of hermetic containers at maintaining Mexican landraces’ seed quantity and quality during storage in smallholder conditions in central Mexico.