PERFORMANCE OF STEM BORER RESISTANT MAIZE INBRED LINES UNDER MAIZE WEEVIL INFESTATION (Sitophilus zeamais): TOWARDS DEVELOPING MULTIPLE PEST RESISTANT MAIZE

Abstract

Maize inbred lines that showed tolerance to stem borer infestation were screened under maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais infestation to test their performance. Eight maize inbred lines with two checks (one susceptible and one resistant) were screened under open and dark storage conditions at the Entomology Laboratory of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University in 2019. Seeds of each maize inbred lines recently harvested, were put in a jar and ten unsexed adult weevils were introduced. The adult weevils were removed after ten days after they must have laid eggs. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design in three replications. Data were collected on number of emerged weevils, seed damage rating, seed coat thickness and weight, grain weight loss, number of damaged seeds and total number of insects at termination. The experiment was terminated after three months. Mean square of inbred lines (genotypes) was significant for all the traits studied. Some of the inbred lines performed better than the resistant check. Generally, the maize inbred lines performed well under weevil infestation with very little or no seed damage. The results indicate that the maize inbred lines have high level of tolerance to maize weevil infestation. The inbred lines shall further be tested under fall armyworm infestation to develop multiple insect resistant maize varieties.