Evaluation of Corn Genotypes for Resistance to Sesamia inferens

Abstract

Corn, as the second most important cereal cultivated in Afghanistan, is subjected to numerous biotic and abiotic stresses limiting its productivity. Sesamia inferens is a polyphagous pest attacking this crop that causes severe damage and yield losses in Afghanistan. This study was conducted to evaluate the resistance to attack by Sesamia inferens of different corn landraces collected from different provinces of Afghanistan along with commercial hybrids. Evaluations for agronomical performance and resistance were done in two years under natural infestation with S. inferens. Differences among genotypes were significant for all traits. The landraces BU1, BU2, BU3 showed to be a good source of stem resistance, and the landrace BU5considered to be a suitable material to improve yield in further breeding programs. This is a preliminary evaluation and the resistance of these landraces should be corroborated under artificial infestation because earlier genotypes could get the silking stage before the occurrence of the peak of insect infestation.