SUSCEPTIBILITY OF SOME EGYPTIAN WHEAT VARIETIES TO THE INFESTATION WITH THE GRANARY WEEVIL, Sitophilus granarius (L). (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE).

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the relative susceptibility of ten Egyptian wheat varieties to the infestation with the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L). The loss in grain weight and the percentage of infested grains were determined in choice and force infestation tests. The obtained results, either in the choice or non-choice infestation tests, indicated that non of the tested varieties were completely resistant against the attack by the insect pest; but their susceptibility to the infestation varied considerably. Variety Gemmiza 7 was the most susceptible with an average infestation level of 18.33% and a maximum weight loss of 6.41 g/100 g grains. Oppositely, variety Beny-sewif 4 was the least susceptible with an infestation level of 3.00% and minimum weight loss of 1.64 g/100 gm. A significant positive correlation was found between the infestation of grains and weight loss (r= 0.86-0. 95**).