MONITORING OF YIELD LOSS IN MAIZE CAUSED BY CHILO AGAMEMNON BLES. (LEPIDOPTERA : PYRALIDAE)

Sabra, Ibrahim M.; Shalaby, Mohamed S.I.; Khewa, Mahmoud M.I.

doi:10.21608/fjard.2005.197806

MONITORING OF YIELD LOSS IN MAIZE CAUSED BY CHILO AGAMEMNON BLES. (LEPIDOPTERA : PYRALIDAE)

Document Type : Research articles.

Authors

Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Egypt.

10.21608/fjard.2005.197806

Abstract

A field trial was carried out in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt, in
2003 and 2004 seasons for monitoring yield loss in maize caused by
Chilo agamemnon infestation. Based on data obtained from
simulated and natural infestation using a given equation, yield loss
could be estimated by field survey of the number of stems broken at
different levels of the plants which compensate for the traditional
method of dissecting the plants in search for the number of holes or
larvae, in addition to the need for yield weight. The actual loss in
yield was 1.59, 0.5 and 1.02 kg/200 plants in March, May and June
plantations, respectively, compared to 1.44, 0.6 and 1.25 kg/200
plants estimated by the given equation. The differences between the
actual and estimated loss in yield is not considerable. This finding
ascertains that the use of such equation facilitates the assessment of
C. agamemnon damage to maize plants through field observation of
symptoms of infestation (broken stems only). Also, results showed
that larvae bore into the ear shank and not the ear itself and
confirmed that, the month of May is the suitable planting date for
maize in Egypt.

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