Pest control strategies and damage potential of seed-infesting pests in the Czech stores – a review

Abstract

This work reviews the historical and current pest risks and research concerning seed storage in the Czech Republic (CR). Stored seed pests (i.e. animals causing injuries to the germ and endosperm) represent a high risk of economic damage due to the high value of seeds coupled with long-term seed storage in small storage units (e.g., boxes, satchels). Rodents represent a significant risk to all types of seeds, especially seeds stored in piles or bags. Mites, psocids, and moths are the main pests of stored grass and vegetable seeds: mites can decrease seed germinability by 52% and psocids caused 9.7% seed weight loss in broken wheat kernels after 3 months of infestation under laboratory conditions. Although beetles (Sitophilus sp., Tribolium sp., Oryzaephilus sp.) and moths (Plodia sp.) are common pests of grain seeds (e.g., wheat, barley, maize), two serious seed pests, Sitotroga cereallela and S. zemays, are rare in the CR. Bruchus pisorum is a common pest of pea seeds, while other Bruchids are rare in the Czech legume seed stores. Currently, the control of seed pests is becoming difficult because the efficient pesticides (e.g., methylbromide, dichlorvos, drinking anticoagulant rodent baits) for seed protection have been lost without the development of adequate substitutes. New research on seed protection in the CR using biological control (mite predators Cheyletus sp.), low pressure, modified atmospheres, and hydrogen cyanide is overviewed.