Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 11(3): 1466 -1473. Published October 31, 2011.
Resistance status of some maize lines and varieties to the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Issa U. S. 1*, Afun J.V.K. 2, Mochiah M.B. 1, Owusu- Akyaw M. 1 and Braimah Haruna1
1CSIR- Crops Research Institute, P O Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana
2Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
*Corresponding author e-mail:umar19sanda@yahoo.co.uk
SUMMARY
This study was conducted to determine the resistance status of maize lines and varieties to Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) attack.
Ten maize lines - EUDTW99STR QPM, FU20 90DYFP, TZEEY-PopSTRC4, DMLSRYQPM, GH90DYFP, FU2080DWF/DPop, TZE-Y-PopDTSTRC4, 2000SYNEEW QPM, GH90DWOPand FU2090DWDpop, and three varieties - Dorke SR, Dodzi and Mamaba (flint maize) were subjected to Sitophilus zeamais attack in a completely randomized design set up, where ten females of S. zeamais were introduced into 50 grammes specific volumes/quantities of shelled whole maize of each of the ten lines and three varieties to oviposit for three days. . Based on knowledge of the life cycle of the pest, the set ups were checked for new emergences after 21 days.. Emerged weevils were removed and counted daily without replacement, with the first batch of emergence occurring at 27 days after treatment from Fu2090DYFP andFu2090DWDPop and the longest period of emergence observed in EVDTW99STRQPMCo, Dodzi, Dorke and GH90DWDP. The mean numbers of emerged weevils from the maize lines and varieties were significantly different (at P< 0.05).lines and varieties exhibited varying degrees of susceptibility and weight loss to the weevil attack, with line 2000SYNEEWQPMCo producing the least mean number of weevils, while line FU2090DYFP recorded the highest number. Based on their susceptibility indices, two lines and one variety are categorized as resistant and eight lines and two varieties as moderately resistant. The two lines (EVDTW99STRQPMCo and GH90DYFP) are therefore recommended to be included into the maize release programme. Maize lines FU20 90DYFP, DMLSRYQPM, FU2080DWF/DPop, TZE-Y-PopDTSTRC4, GH90DWOP, FU2090DWDpop,TZEEY-PopSTRC4, 2000SYNEEW QPM and the varieties Mamaba and Dorke SR are also recommended to be included in breeding programmes to improve their resistance to S. zeamais for future release
FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE ]
