SELECTION IN MAIZE (ZEA-MAYS L) FOR RESISTANCE TO THE SPOTTED STEM BORER (CHILO-PARTELLUS (SWINHOE))

Two cycles of a recurrent selection procedure were applied on five maize populations to improve the level of resistance to leaf and stalk feeding by larvae of Chilo partellus (Swimhoe). The source (C-0) population and the two selected cycles for each population were compared to evaluate the response to selection. Using a 9-point rating scale for leaf feeding, four of the populations exhibited reduction in rating of 0.03 - 0.42 per cycle corresponding to a decrease of 0.10 - 12.28% per cycle relative to source C-0 Stem tunnel length decreased by 1.45 - 3.26% per cycle corresponding to 5.73 to 12.83% per cycle relative to C-0. Plant height and grain yield increased moderately with selection. The improved populations should be superior sources of germplasm for developing genotypes that are resistant to leaf and stalk feeding caused by larvae of the spotted stem barer.