Morphological basis of host plant resistance in sugarcane to early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen

摘要

Studies on morphological basis of resistance to early shoot borer(ESB), Chilo infuscatellus Snellen (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in four least susceptible, four moderately susceptible and four highly susceptible sugarcane genotypes, in comparison with one susceptible check, were carried out at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Anakapalle, Andhra Pradesh, India during 2008-10. The leaf sheath thickness showed negative correlation (r= -0.89) and shoot girth showed positive correlation (r = 0.94) with susceptibility to ESB in different sugarcane genotypes whereas leaf inclination showed positive correlation with ovipositional preference of ESB moth (r =0.88) as well as with ESB susceptibility (r = 0.81). No relationship was found between the number of leaves, length, breadth of leaf and oviposition by the ESB moths. The moths preferred deep green foliage as well as bent and drooping leaves for egg laying and prefer to lay eggs on the lower surface of leaves.