STUDY OF THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND GERMINATION CAPACITY OF Cicer arietinum INFESTED BY Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.)
AIMAD ALLALI *
Nutrition, Health and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco and Regional Center for the Trades of Education and Training (CRMEF), Fez, Morocco.
SANAE REZOUKI
Nutrition, Health and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco and Regional Center for the Trades of Education and Training (CRMEF), Fez, Morocco.
BOUCHRA LOUASTÉ
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food and Health, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz (FSDM), Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA), Fez, Morocco.
YAMNA BOUCHELTA
Laboratory of Biotechnology and Preservation of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, USMBA, Fez, Morocco.
TAHA EL KAMLI
Laboratory of Biological Tests, Food and Nutritional Transition Team, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco.
NOUREDDINE ELOUTASSI
Regional Center for the Trades of Education and Training (CRMEF), Fez, Morocco.
MOHAMED FADLI
Nutrition, Health and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This work focuses on the study of the deterioration caused by the infestation of Callosobruhus maculatus insect pest of chickpea seeds and their consequences on the germination potential and nutritive quality of Cicer arietinum seeds. Mass rearing was carried out for several generations followed by sorting of the seeds into four categories (N0, N1, N2 and N3) according to their degree of infestation. In addition, we performed an analysis of the infestation effect on the germination and nutritional value of the seeds.
The results show that C. maculatus caused deterioration of chickpea seeds by altering several biological parameters. These damages vary according to the severity of the infestation. Seed germination decreases with the degree of infestation until complete annihilation. The same result was obtained for the length of germinating radicles.
The metabolic activities of the insect induce several changes in the seeds biochemical composition. Proteins and lipids increase depending on the severity of infestation, as well as amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Carbohydrates, dietary fiber, starch and crude cellulose decrease, while glucose and reducing sugars increase.
Depending on the degree of infestation, the proportion of phosphorus and vitamin D increases, while other vitamins and trace elements progressively decrease until exhaustion.
Infestation with C. maculatus causes severe damage to the seed resulting in reduced germination capacity, nutritional quality and commercial value of C. arietinum seeds.
Keywords: Callosobruchus maculatus, Cicer arietinum, weight loss, germination potential, nutritional quality.