Clarifying aspects of the weevils (Sitophilus spp.) behavior on stored wheat seeds, considering the seed quality, is essential to improve the seed management during storage. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the insecticide fenitrothion as protecting wheat seeds against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and to measure the seed germination during storage, wheat seeds of IAC-120 and IAC-350 cultivars were treated or not with the insecticide fenitrothion three months after harvest and stored in laboratory ambient conditions, in Campinas, SP, Brazil, during 15 months. S. oryzae adults were trimonthly placed on seed samples from the replications of the treatments with insects. The survival of the insects was evaluated, as well as the resulting progeny. The insects were eliminated and seed moisture content, germination and insect infestation were measured at the seed samples from the replications of all the treatments with or without insects. It was concluded that fenitrothion, in the recommended dose, does not protect wheat seeds, against S.oryzae infestation, even in short-term storage of two months. Wheat seeds with high initial germination level can keep their viability, for 14 to 17 months after harvest, when stored in ambient conditions, in regions, which have the climate similar to Campinas.
Triticum aestivum; Sitophilus oryzae; seeds; storage; germination; chemical control
