Effect of storage and insect infestation on the mineral and vitamin contents of wheat grain and flour.

The objective of this study was to evaluate how storage and Sitophilus granarius L. infestation affects mineral and vitamin (thiamin and riboflavin) contents of wheat grain and flour obtained from the wheat. Wheat samples were infested with nonsexed S. granarius at a rate of two adults per kilogram, and stored for 6 mo at 30 +/- 1 degrees C and 70 +/- 5% relative humidity. Every 30 d, samples of wheat were collected and evaluated for insect population, mineral, thiamin, and riboflavin contents. Flour milled from these wheat samples was also evaluated for mineral, thiamin, and riboflavin contents. None of the analyses performed on the uninfested wheat and flour samples showed any noticeable change during the storage period. The insect population of the infested wheat samples increased during the storage period. The ratio of the mineral contents to dry matter significantly increased in the infested wheat and flour samples during the infestation period, whereas thiamin and riboflavin contents considerably decreased. The feeding habits of S. granarius and the distribution of minerals and vitamins in the wheat grain caused the changes observed in the levels of these compounds. The effects of infestation were greatest in the latter stages, during which the insect population increased greatly.