Talking into consideration that chemical control is generally pollutant, its use to protect the stored cereal seeds is accepted in the main for the stocks but at the same time strictly limited in case of stocks destined for human and animal consumption. The paper presents some laboratory results of the tests concerning the effect of corona discharges as a possible non-pollutant mean to control the granary weevil adults (Sitophilus granarius L.). The corona discharges were generated between a superior brush–type and a ground flat electrode, connected to a fully adjustable high–voltage electric source. The testing method is the direct exposure of the infested cereal seeds by granary weevil adults to the corona field. The effect of corona field was studied at different level of voltage and exposure time against the infested stock in the Laboratory of Entomology at the Faculty of Agriculture of USAMV Cluj-Napoca and at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, during 2002-2008. The recorded results after the tests in different corona discharges concluded that in the future these could be an unpolluted and low energophagous technology to protect the agricultural stored products.

corona discharges; granary weevil; pest; stored cereals

Presentation: oral