~ 1180 ~ The Pharma Innovation Journal 2021; 10(10): 1180-1184 ISSN (E): 2277- 7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.23 TPI 2021; 10(10): 1180-1184 © 2021 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 01-08-2021 Accepted: 03-09-2021 Bhawani Lal Kurre Department of Primary Processing Storage and Handling, NIFTEM, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India Aditi Negi Department of Primary Processing Storage and Handling, NIFTEM, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India M Loganathan Department of Academics & Human Resource Development, NIFTEM, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India Baskaran N Department of Food Processing Business Incubation Centre, NIFTEM, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India Meenatchi Rajamani Department of Primary Processing Storage and Handling, NIFTEM, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India Corresponding Author: Meenatchi Rajamani Department of Primary Processing Storage and Handling, NIFTEM, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India Fragment shedding behaviour of Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on pearl millet flour during storage Bhawani Lal Kurre, Aditi Negi, M Loganathan, Baskaran N and Meenatchi Rajamani Abstract The insects are the major cause of post-harvest losses of grain that can be a positive cause of many human health issues. Insects infestation in flour can cause significant changes in the quality of Pearl millet flour (PMF). The present study focuses on the fragment shedding behaviour of Rhyzopertha dominica and Sitophilus oryzae on PMF. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has given the DAL (Defect Action Level), i.e. 75 insect fragments per 50 gram of flour. The standard acid hydrolysis method was used to calculate the fragment counts in PMF. The results indicate that the fragments shed by R. dominica and S. oryzae insects in PMF at 30 ºC with 35 days of storage duration were - R. dominica shed 34.00±3.05, 120.00±5.50, and 220.00±53.48 fragments, respectively for 1, 3, and 5 number of infestation. The S. oryzae shed 22.00±1.00, 59.00±6.24, and 78.00±10.39 fragments, respectively, for 1, 3, and 5 insect infestations. The R. dominica crossed the DAL in 21 and 14 days in 3 and 5 insect- infested PMF. The S. oryzae crossed the DAL in 35 days in 5 insect-infested PMF. The result from the current study indicates that even three insects can degrade the quality of the PMF. A frequent sampling at adequate intervals of time and post-harvest processing within 13 days after harvesting is required (results demonstrated that till 13 th day PMF was under the acceptable limit, below DAL) to retain the quality and control the insect infestation and its fragments shredding in PMF. Keywords: fragment shedding behaviour, defect action level, R. dominica, S. oryzae 1. Introduction Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is high in nutritional value compared to other major cereal crops. Pearl millet has a higher protein, fat, fiber, and ash content than other major cereal cultivated crops [1] . Pearl millet is produced nearly half of the world's total millet production. India is number one in millet production compared to other countries with a market share of 41.04% and an annual production of 8.61 million tonnes. The total global millet production is estimated at around 28.45 million tonnes per year [2] . Insect infestation and insect fragments are significant threats for post-harvest grain storage because they are associated with economic losses, create health hazards, product shelf life reduction, etc. This can create qualitative and quantitative damage to the millet. Quantitative and qualitative damage like reduction in the grain or flour weight and nutritional quality of millet is due to feeding of insects [3] . The post- harvest losses of millet were estimated at 11-15% [4] . From the total post-harvest losses, 5% of loss occurs from transportation. 4-5% loss comes from marketing and distribution. Around 2- 4.2% loss comes due to storage and infestation, which accounts for the 1300 crores loss per year [4, 5] . The insect infestation and insect fragments create more significant damage to the millet flour; for example - insect faeces contamination (mainly uric acid) increases the flour humidity and creates a favorable condition for fungal and mould growth. Due to Insect contaminations, the products get exposed to quinones which adult insects produce as a defence mechanism [6] . T. castaneum, R. dominica, S. oryzae are some of the important insects which create significant changes in the quality of millet flour and decreases the final product quality and consumer acceptability. Infestation control and insect management are essential to reduce quality losses and improve the product's export value in the international market. The US FDA has sated DAL, i.e. 75 insect fragments/50 g of flour. The current study of insect fragment shedding behaviour on PMF with different insects will help us to know the–Fragment shedding behaviour of insects