Abstract

                                The present study was carried out to examine physical and bio chemical changes in the maize hybrids infested by rice weevil population after three months storage period. VH5 was most susceptible incurring 25.10 % weight loss while Shaktiman1 and RHM2 were moderately susceptible with minimum weight losses of 8.45%, 10.26 %, respectively. Carbohydrate and oil contents decreased after the infestation of Sitophilus oryzae while protein content increased irrespective of maize hybrids. Maximum depletion and changes in nutritional composition was observed in case of VH5. Correlation analysis between the progeny emerged and the starch content of the maize kernels showed positive association (0.5993) while it was negative with protein ( -0.4615) and oil content (-0.8789).

Key words : Sitophilus oryzae, maize, grain damage, weight loss, bio chemical changes, nutritional losses