Location of sources of resistance amongst different maize varieties and inbreds to Chilo partellus (Swinhoe)

Thirty-nine maize varieties of three maturity groups and 34 advance inbreds were evaluated for their relative susceptibility to the maize stalk borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) under artificial infestation on 1–9 damage grade scale during 1983–1986 kharif seasons. Four short duration varieties, viz, D 791, Pool 27, Pool 17 and Tarun showing mean damage grade up to 3.0 proved the least susceptible. Other five varieties, viz, A 68 (Arun), Pool 15, J 660 (Kiran), J 3022 (short duration) and EH 5041 (long duration) suffering mean damage grade up to 4.0, may be considered as less susceptible. Four varieties such as Ganga Safed 2, EH 2813 (long duration), EH 2123 (medium duration) and EFP (short duration), indicating more than 6.0 mean damage grade, proved highly susceptible. Among the inbreds screened during 1985 and 1986, three lines, viz, (J 54 x Mo 17B57)-17-1-2-2-1-1-I#, Swl (S) C6-40-1-1-1-2-1# and Swl (S) C6-53-1-1-1-2-2#, exhibiting mean damage grade up to 3.0, emerged as relatively more resistant to this pest. While 16 inbreds suffering more than 6.0 mean damage grade, manifested a highly susceptible reaction to C. partellus.