Abstract

QUIROGA-MURCIA, Daniel  and  POSADA-FLOREZ, Francisco Javier. DAMAGE OF THE FALSE WIREWORM Eleodes pos. omissoides Blaisdell (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) UPON SEEDS OF GRASSES AND LEGUMES. rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2013, vol.16, n.2, pp.391-400. ISSN 0123-4226.

Adults and larvae of the false wireworm Eleodes pos. omissoides live in the soil and feed on seeds. This habit cause losses on the crops, decreases yield and increases the production cost as control actions needs to be applied. The damage caused by the larvae on pea, corn and wheat seeds were evaluated, offering dry and during 24 hours water hydrated seeds before exposition to the larvae. Evaluation to record the damage type was done every six hours for a period of 72 hours. During the evaluations it was established if the seed remained free of damage, if the endosperm was attacked, if the embryo or the whole seed was consumed. The results showed that all seeds were attacked as soon as they were exposed to the larvae in the soil. The response to the damage was variable, depending on the exposure of dry or hydrated seeds. The pea seeds presented the lowest damage, followed by corn, being the most susceptible ones wheat, both dry and hydrated. Regarding the type of damage the attacked embryo showed the highest value, followed by the damage to the endosperm and in lesser amount the destruction of the whole seed. Overall, the damage of the seeds reached on average 50.64%. Seeds that had suffered endosperm damage germinated, but showed fungal development.

Keywords : Soil; seeding; losses; germination; fungi.

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