Laboratory Assessment Of The Susceptability Of Some Varieties Of Zea mays Infested With Sitophilus zeamais, Motsch. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) In Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Susceptibility to infestation by Sitophilus zeamais was carried out on seven varieties of Zea mays (S123, Coca, Coca-Hybrid, TZB, Single-Cross, LI and LII).  Susceptibility was determined by counting the number of the insect pest on each of the maize variety. Results showed that none of the variety was completely resistant to infestation by S. zeamais. More insects were found in the susceptible variety than the resistant variety. The order of susceptibility of maize varieties to the pest from most susceptible to less susceptible were as follows: TZB, Single-Cross, Coca, Coca-Hybrid, LII, LI, Coca-Hybrid and S123. It was observed that maize size and moisture content were responsible for modifying resistance while nutritional content of each of the maize variety did not modify susceptibility