Reaction of Sub-Tropical, Foreign and Wild Genome Introgressed Sugarcane Hybrids against Stalk Borer, Chilo auricilious Dudgeon

Two hundred ninety eight sugarcane genetic resources including 129 varieties, 109 exotic clones, 21 inter-specific hybrids (ISH) and 39 inter-generic hybrids (IGH) were screened against stalk borer under field condition at Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Regional Centre, Karnal during year 2011–13. The percent incidence of stalk borer varied from 2.38 to 70.00% while the infestation index varied from 0.18 to 12.95. None of the studied germplasm was free from stalk borer infestation, however 10.85% varieties, 37.61% exotic (foreign hybrids) clones, 28.57% inter-specific hybrids and 69.23% inter-generic hybrids were least susceptible to stalk borer (infestation index was <2.00). Among the intergeneric hybrids all 26 CYM/CYMA clones (Erianthus arundinaceus and Saccharum spontaneum cyto-nuclear genome introgressed near commercial hybrids), were least susceptible to stalk borer infestation than the released varieties, exotic clones and inter-specific hybrids. The nature of adherence of leaf sheath, stalk length, stalk diameter, sucrose%, sucrose maturity, fibre% did not exert influence on the incidence of stalk borer.