Scientific publications
Bertrand Zing Zing
Azmani Amina
Josiane Emilienne Germaine Mbassi
Nina Sophie Natacha Ngono Eyenga
François Essouma Manga
Eliane Flore Eyenga
Eugene Ejolle Ehabe
Charles Melea Kede
Preprints.org
Insect infestation during storage can significantly alter the nutritional composition of cereal and legume grains. This study evaluated the effects of Acanthoscelides obtectus and Sitophilus zeamais infestation on the macronutrient and mineral composition of common bean and maize cultivars before and after six months of storage. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between raw and infested grains within each cultivar. The cultivars NUV6 and CMS 8704 were classified as highly susceptible, whereas FEB-190 and CMS 8501 exhibited moderate resistance to insect infestation. A. obtectus developed and emerged more rapidly in common bean cultivars than S. zeamais in maize cultivars. Insect infestation was associated with reductions in fat, protein, iron, and zinc content, accompanied by increases in moisture and ash content, indicating a progressive deterioration of grain nutritional quality during storage. Common bean cultivars showed greater susceptibility, with higher insect emergence than maize cultivars. PCA revealed clear discrimination between raw and infested cultivars based on their nutritional and mineral composition. For common bean cultivars, PC1 and PC2 explained 58.15% and 36.28% of the total variance, respectively, whereas for maize cultivars, they accounted for 66.64% and 30.31%. Overall, these findings highlight the influence of insect infestation on the nutritional quality of stored grains and may contribute to the development of improved post-harvest storage and pest management strategies.
