Screening of rice varieties against yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (walker)

Twenty five rice varieties were screened against yellow stem borer infestation at NARP Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during kharif 2011 and 2012. Results revealed that out of twenty five varieties screened, fifteen varieties are promising (two are resistant and thirteen are moderately resistant) against yellow stem borer infestation as they recorded minimum per cent DH and WEH infestation and gained 1 to 3 scale of resistance. Seven varieties of paddy showed remarkable degree of resistant against S. incertulas infestation. GAR 13 performed best by attaining highest grain yield (4.18 kg/plot and 6192.6 kg/ha) which was statistically similar with NAUR 1 (4.08 kg/plot and 6044.4 kg/ha), GR 12 (4.04 kg/plot and 5985.2 kg/ha). Next in line were GR 11 (3.83 kg/plot and 5674.1 kg/ha) and IR 28 (3.81 kg/plot and 5644.4 kg/ha). Thus, GAR 13, IR 22, Narmada, NAUR 1 and GR 7, IR 50 and IR 28 may be used as source of resistance against S. incertulas. Moreover, grain yield exhibited non- significant but negative correlation with per cent dead heart and white earhead damage