Location: Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research
2022 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Single seed near infrared instrument facilitates corn hybrid development. Single seed, near infrared (NIR) instruments developed by ARS researchers in Manhattan, Kansas, are being used by collaborators at two university maize breeding programs in Ames, Iowa, and Gainesville, Florida. They are being used to sort doubled haploid (DH) seeds from hybrid seeds which has been a major bottle neck in the use of DH technology. Sorting is based on detection of the small oil content differences naturally found between DH and hybrid seeds. DH seeds are valuable in creating inbred lines used for hybrid development. The instruments will enable a faster and more cost-effective development of inbred plants, which in turn are used to create commercial hybrids. Ultimately, the time to develop hybrids will be shortened, allowing breeders greater flexibility to address issues of plant disease resistance, climate adaptability, and improved agronomic traits, which will also benefit farmers.
2. Computer simulation modelling improves fumigation in grain storage bunkers. A computer model was developed by ARS researchers in Manhattan, Kansas, and used to determine causes of fumigation failures in sealed grain storage bunkers. Fumigation failures in grain storage facilities allow some of the targeted insects to survive, which leads to resistant stored grain insect populations. As a result, phosphine—currently the most widely used fumigant to control the insects in stored grain—is in danger of becoming ineffective for insect control. Modeling results showed that the movement of the covering tarpaulin is the driving force of phosphine behavior in bunkers, and that phosphine distribution is very sensitive to motions caused by weather conditions. Based on these results, fumigation techniques can be modified in several ways, such as by locating the fumigant in more effective locations within the bunkers and orienting bunkers so that prevailing winds are more effective at helping distribute the phosphine gas.
Review Publications
Brabec, D.L., Morrison III, W.R., Campbell, J.F., Arthur, F.H., Bruce, A.I., Yeater, K.M. 2021. Evaluation of dosimeter tubes for monitoring phosphine fumigations. Journal of Stored Products Research. 91. Article 101762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2021.101762.
Lin, H., Bean, S.R., Tilley, M., Peiris, K., Brabec, D.L. 2020. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of sorghum grain composition using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Journal of Food Analytical Methods.14:268-279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-020-01874-5.
Agrafioti, P., Brabec, D.L., Morrison III, W.R., Campbell, J.F., Athanassiou, C.G. 2021. Scaling recovery of susceptible and resistant stored product insects after short exposures to phosphine by using automated video-tracking software. Pest Management Science. 77(3):1245-1255. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6135.
Asuncion, F.B., Brabec, D.L., Casada, M.E., Maghirang, R.G., Arthur, F.H., Campbell, J.F., Zhu, K., Martin, D.E. 2020. Spray characterization of aerosol delivery systems for use in stored product insect facilities. Transactions of the ASABE. 63(6):1925-1937. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.14010.
Wu, X., Maghirang, E.B., Armstrong, P.R. 2022. Predicting single kernel moisture and protein content of mushroom popcorn using NIR spectroscopy: Tool for detecting their effect on popping performance. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 38(3):469-476. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.14875.
Elsayed, S., Casada, M.E., Maghirang, R., Wei, M. 2021. Evolution of phosphine from aluminum phosphide pellets. Transactions of the ASABE. 64(2):615-624. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.14326.
Armstrong, P.R., Maghirang, E.B., Chen, M., McClung, A.M., Yaptenco, K.F., Brabec, D.L., Wu, T., Wei, Y. 2022. Predicting single kernel and bulk milled rice alkali spreading value and gelatinization temperature class using nir spectroscopy. Cereal Chemistry. 99(6):1234-1245. https://doi.org/10.1002/cche.10587.
Gokhan, H., Armstrong, P.R. 2022. Flax and Sorghum: Multi-Elemental Contents and Nutritional Values within 210 Varieties and Potential Selection for Future Climates to Sustain Food Security.. Plants. 11(3). Article 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030451.
Su, K., Maghirang, E.B., Tan, J., Yoon, J., Armstrong, P.R., Kachroo, P., Hildebrand, D. 2022. NIR spectroscopy for rapid measurement of moisture and cannabinoid contents of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa). Industrial Crops and Products. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.115007.
Brabec, D.L., Pordesimo, L.O. 2022. Estimating chalkiness in endosperm of typical and bleached durum kernels from transmission scanned images. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 38(4):651-658. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.15023.
Petingco, M.C., Casada, M.E., Maghirang, R.G., Thompson, S.A., McNeill, S.G., Monbtross, M.D., Turner, A.P. 2022. Discrete element method simulation of wheat bulk density as affected by grain drop height and size distribution. Transactions of the ASABE. 65(3):555-566. https://doi.org/10.13031/ja.14811.
Boac, J., Casada, M.E., Pordesimo, L.O., Arthur, F.H., Maghirang, R., Mina, C.D. 2022. Effect of internal insect infestation on single kernel mass and particle density of corn and wheat. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 38(3):583-588. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.14858.
