Antixenosis Mechanism of Resistance in Sugarcane to Early Shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen Under in vivo Conditions

Studies on ovipositional preference of the early shoot borer (Chilo infuscatellus Snellen) in no choice, dual choice and multi choice tests under net house conditions revealed that there was a considerable variation among the different sugarcane genotypes for ovipositional preference of early shoot borer. Among the morphological characters, leaf inclination and chlorophyll showed positive correlation (r =0.8 and 0.74, respectively) with ovipositional preference of early shoot borer moth on different sugarcane genotypes. The moths preferred deep green foliage as well as bent and drooping leaves for egg laying and prefer to lay eggs on the lower surface of leaves. Relative ovipositional preference in relation to susceptible check, 93 A 145 under multi choice, dual choice and no choice conditions have indicated that LS genotypes (Co 0110, 98 A 165, Co 6806 and 98 A 125) were relatively less preferred for oviposition whereas MS genotypes (97 A 85, 2000 A 105, 99 A 5 and Co 62175) were moderately preferred and HS genotypes (93 A 11, 99 A 33, 94 A 124 and Co M9902) were more preferred for egg laying by the early shoot borer moths.