Chemical Composition, Quality Parameters, Exopeptidase and Oxidoreductase Activity Changes During Temporal Development of Wheat Grain Infestation by Sitophilus granarius

Changes in chemical composition, grain quality parameters, oxidoreductase and exopeptidase activities of wheat grains infested by Sitophilus granarius were monitored during 1 year of storage. Significant increase in flour titratable acidity of infested grains occurred by day 90. Subsequently, infestation was followed by decrease of grain hectoliter weight on day 180, decrease of carboxypeptidase activity on day 240, polyphenol oxidase and catalase activities increased and total starch decreased on day 270, while significant changes of total protein content, extractable protein concentration, phenylalanyl-aminopeptidase and Zeleny sedimentation occurred between 300 and 360 days of storage. The data indicate that S. granarius infestation influenced chemical composition, quality parameters, as well as oxidoreductase and exopeptidase activity in wheat grains, but the extent of these changes was mostly detectable at higher levels of grain infestation. Among the examined parameters, flour titratable acidity and carboxypeptidase activity showed potential to be used as early indicators of grain infestation. Practical Applications Granary weevil, S. granarius, is one of the major grain-damaging insects. This primary infester feeds on grains as adult, or on grain endosperm as larvae causing significant economic losses, due to unsuitability of damaged grains for human food production. Although various methods of S. granarius detection in stored grains have been applied worldwide, there is still a need for cheap indicative methods for detecting insect infestation. This study investigating changes in chemical composition, quality parameters, oxidoreductase and exopeptidase activities during temporal development of infestation by S. granarius shows that flour titratable acidity and carboxypeptidase activity could be used as early indicators of wheat grain infestation.