Resistance of three Egyptian wheat cultivars to Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) using age-stage, two-sex life table analysis

Abstract Background The grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella Olivier (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a major stored-product pest that infests various cereals. To assess the susceptibility of three Egyptian wheat cultivars (Giza 171, Seds 12, and Misr 1) to S. cerealella , the effects of these cultivars on the biological parameters of S. cerealella were compared using life table analysis. Results Feeding the Misr-1 grain cultivar led to a reduced intrinsic rate of increase ( r ), net reproductive rate ( R 0 ), and finite rate of increase (λ), indicating reduced population growth and lower susceptibility. In contrast, Giza-171 was the most susceptible cultivar, with significantly higher values for these parameters, while Seds-12 showed intermediate responses. Developmental parameters, including mean generation time, varied significantly among cultivars. Similarly, reproductive parameters such as the adult pre-oviposition period (APOP) and total pre-oviposition period (TPOP) of females showed significant differences. Grain biochemical analysis revealed that higher carbohydrate content is associated with increased susceptibility. These results suggest that cultivating resistant cultivars could serve as a sustainable management strategy against S. cerealella in stored wheat. Among the tested cultivars, Misr-1 exhibited the highest resistance to S. cerealella , followed by Seds-12, whereas Giza-171 was the most susceptible to infestation. Conclusion These findings demonstrate the potential of resistant cultivars as a sustainable, non-chemical strategy for managing S. cerealella in stored wheat.