Analysis of Host Plant Resistance in Some Genotypes of Maize against Chilo Partellus (swinhoe) (pyralidae: Lepidoptera)

Twenty available genotypes of maize were screened for resistance to Chilo partellus in the field. The genotype Sahiwal 2002 was found to be most susceptible while DK-6525 was most resistant. Maximum infestation was observed at the end of April while the minimum in the last week of March. Significant variations were observed in all the plant characters viz., number of nodes per plant, plant height, cob height, stem diameter, length of central spike, cob length, leaf length, leaf width, leaf trichomes and 100 grains weight. All these characters had negative and significant correlation with the infestation of Chilo partellus except number of nodes per plant, plant height, cob height and length of central spike which had negative but non significant results. The R values computed for multiple linear regression indicated that leaf trichomes contributed for the maximum 41.6% individual role followed by stem diameter alone contributed 32.7% towards resistance to Chilo partellus. Overall contribution of significant factors was observed 84.8% which was resulted from the combined effect of stem diameter, cob length, leaf length, leaf width, leaf trichomes and 100 grains weight.