Sitotroga cerealella-resistant mexican maize races (Zea mays L.), new sources of resistance for commercial maize breeding

Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most important post-harvest pests of maize Zea mays L. Some Mexican maize races (Z. mays) could be a novel source of resistance against S. cerealella to improve commercial maize varieties, lines and hybrids. We studied the resistance of Mexican maize races, recollected at Chihuahua State to S. cerealella. We focused on antibiosis and tolerance of maize to S. cerealella. Cristalino-079 maize race shows low level of consumption in grams and percentage, increased larvae mortality before to entering the seed. In addition, Cristalino-079 reduced first adult's generation and show the largest biological cycle. Due to the small number of emerged adults, there was very little grain weight loss in resistant maize race. The compound that causes high mortality of larvae before to entering the grain is in the pericarp of resistant maize races. The compound that causes longest development time is in the endosperm and embryo. Cristalino-079 show the better level of resistance to S. cerealella infestation in almost all traits studied and this can be used as source of resistance for maize breeding.