Differential Preference for Oviposition by Sesamia inferens Walker on Maize Genotypes

Oviposition preference of pink borer was studied on nine resistant and three susceptible genotypes by releasing 10 pairs of moths on 8–10 days old plants in separate oviposition cages at 21±1°C. Total number of eggs laid varied from 12.6 to 123.4. On basal leaf sheath varied from 1.8 in WNZPBTL7 to 94.7 in CM 202. The number of eggs found on second leaf sheath varied from 1.2 in WNZPBTL4 to 43.3 in WNZPBTL3. First leaf sheath received maximum proportion of laid eggs, which ranged from 51.6–91.4% of the total eggs laid. Second and third leaf sheaths received 2.8–42.2% and 0–10.1%, respectively. Irrespective of the genotypes, leas number of eggs were found on third leaf sheath.