The College of Agriculture at the University of Basra organized a seminar on the isolation and identification of fungi associated with the Khapra hairy grain beetle and the possibility of biological control.
The seminar, delivered by graduate student Enas Asmar Ali, aimed to protect wheat grains from infestation by the Khapra hairy grain beetle and prepare them for planting as seeds. It also aimed to identify the most important fungi associated with the insect, identify them morphologically, and confirm their genera and species through genetic diagnosis.
The seminar included testing the effect of fungal biofilms on the percentage of mortality of the second and fourth larval stages and adults.
The study concluded with a statement of the percentage of grain loss resulting from infestation, and a chemical analysis of the nutritional components of wheat grains before and after infestation.
Division of Media and Government Communication / College of Agriculture
