Identification of morphological traits in maize for its least susceptibility to Chilo partellus

One hundred inbreds and 35 hybrids of maize were evaluated under artificial infestation by Chilo partellus with the objective to (a) indentify the morphological and productivity traits that were affected by Chilo partellus and (b) identify inbred lines and hybrids having low score to stem borer infestation. The productivity traits viz. plant height, ear length and number of internodes infested was adversely affected by C. partellus under severe infestation conditions. Inbreds viz. 47–2, 1354–2, 332, 1348–8, 326–3, 536, 193–1 and 1128 were having better resistance under severe conditions and therefore, they could be used for further breeding program to develop borer resistant cultivars. Hybrids viz. 1105x323, 47–2x161, 288x163, 536x163, 1094x193–1, 1348–6–2x1354–2, CML 150x1110, 1110xCML 150, CML 150x1344, HHM-x and MBR 139x1348–6–2. The yield remained unaffected by Chilo partellus.