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Stewart Postharvest Review |
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An international journal for reviews in postharvest biology and technology |
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© 2011 Stewart Postharvest Solutions (UK) Ltd. Online ISSN:1945-9656 Online ISSN:1945-9656 www.stewartpostharvest.com © 2005 Stewart Postharvest Solutions (UK) Ltd. All Rights Reserved 1 |
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Monitoring insect pest populations in grain storage: the European context
Francis Fleurat-Lessard INRA Research Unit 1264, Mycology and Food Safety, INRA Bordeaux-Aquitaine Research Centre, Villenave d’Ornon, France
Abstract Purpose of review: This review aims at describing the methods actually used and highlights the recent changes in the practice of insect population monitoring in bulk-stored grain in European countries. New approaches on grain insect pest monitoring that renew the concept of grain integrated pest management are described. Findings: The absence of infestation is of major importance in grain marketing. Grain samples are subjected to systematic examination for detection of live insects at a market point. The sampling and sieving grain samples collected with mechanical devices is a standard method commonly used to detect or estimate live insect numbers in domestic and international trade. During the last decade novel methods have been developed for insect detection and monitoring in grain. These include electronic and acoustic probes suitable for large grain bulks. The goal is to forecast infestation risks and reduce use of grain treatments with chemicals or fumigants. The use of these new tools is in full compliance with EU regulations and requirements for food hygiene and safety. The data from the monitoring of insects and grain condition may be combined in a decision support system knowledge base for predicting the safe storage period. Directions for future research: Predictive models of insect rate of increase from probe trap data and thermal-hygrometry data at critical locations of a grain bulk should be useful in decision support systems for predicting safe storage time period, and also offer relevant advice to grain managers to optimise insect management efficiency.
Keywords: insect monitoring; bulk grain; insect density assessment; decision support system; probe traps; stored-grain IPM
Correspondence to: Francis Fleurat-Lessard, INRA Bordeaux-Aquitaine Research Centre, Research Unit Mycology and Food Safety, 71 avenue Edouard Bourleaux, BP No. 81, F-33883 Villenave d’Ornon Cedex, France. Tel: +33 557 122 478 ; Fax: +33 557 122 500; email: francis.fleurat-lessard@bordeaux.inra.fr
Stewart Postharvest Review 2011, 3:4 Published online 01 December 2011 doi: 10.2212/spr.2011.3.4 |