Abstract:
The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) is an important crop in many countries and its safe storage is
crucial in maintaining a sufficient and high quality food supply for the community. A non-chemical
storage technique, hermetic storage, is being used to control the bean bruchid (Acanthoscelides
obtectus Say), a beetle which can cause large losses to stored beans. Experiments were carried out
using hermetically sealed containers of known gas volume at different temperatures (10 and 27°C) and
bean moistures (8 and 16% wet basis) to quantify the oxygen requirement of bruchids. Bruchids use
between 0.0074 and 0.1043 cm3
bruchid-1
day-1
, depending on bean temperature and bean moisture
content. Days to 100% adult bruchid mortality in hermetic storage, as a function of infestation level,
storage volume, temperature and bean moisture content, can be estimated by using these oxygen
requirement results. These estimates can be used to design hermetic storage systems to protect beans
from damage by bruchids.