Rice Varieties Screening and Use of Flexible Plastic Package to Extent Storage Durability: Case Study Rice at Central Kalimantan

Abstract

Rice is an important commodity because being the staple food of the most of Indonesian people. During storage, the rice can be damaged due to environmental factors as well as postharvest pest. Sitophilus oryzae is postharvest insect pest that attack rice during storage causing quantity and quality losses. The objective of this research is to screening resistance of several local rice variety of Central Kalimantan, study effect of packages on S.oryzae mortality and determine appropriate packaging for rice storage. Eight rice varieties were tested against S.oryzae and then taken three variety (Siam Jurut, Siam Unus and Karang Dukuh) that packaged using “hermetic” laminat, polypropilen (PP) and low density polyetylen (LDPE). Result of the research showed that the lowest index of susceptibility was Siam Jurut, followed by Siam Palun, Siam Palas and Bayar Pahit that were be resistant varieties. Siam Unus had medium index of susceptibility. Rantul, Siam Pandak and Karang Dukuh had high Index of susceptibility. After storage, the resistant group had lower quantity losses, damaged grain and moisture content than susceptible group. The kind of plastic significantly effect to S.oryzae mortality. Total mortality of S.oryzae reached after three day for Siam Jurut, Siam Unus and Karang Dukuh in “hermetic” laminat plastic, six day for Siam jurut in PP plastic, seven day for Siam Unus and Karang Dukuh. In LDPE, total mortality reached after 20 storage day.